Hong Kong to Sapa (Vietnam)

Hi everyone,

I know its been a while since we last wrote but here's the update...

Having left Flores by Merpati (Indonesian local carrier) - not too bad actually... we arrived back in Bali for about two weeks where we decided to just chill out at a place called Seminyak just north of Kuta (the drunk ozzies hangout) and I interspersed lounging by a pool with surfing lessons for $3/hour and doing general admin like washing clothes and catching up with news and the latest copied Western films (for $1). I swear we have now seen most of the films that are inthe cinemas in the UK and US. ;-)

After our lounging around we flew out to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific (nice carrier as they let us go into the business lounge whilst we waited for the departure)...

Hong Kong is a place of complete contrast - some parts are very western and others are very Chinese. (we went for dinner at one place and the entire menu was in Chinese so a very helpful waitress just told us to circle some things on a chit of paper and then hand it back to her - it ended up being excellent and pretty cheap (for HK)).

Whilst Erin had her hair done (something that she had been complaining about for about three weeks) I went for a wander around Hong Kong island and ended up on a tram to the Peak overlooking the city. There were fantastic views and the typical skyline that you see on photos. I also managed to navigate the subway system to get to a historic temple on the outskirts of the city that had been recommended to me by Louise (one of my uni friends). It was pretty bizarre as the temple had a whole load of people praying and burning so much incense that you could barely see the other side of the room. We also visited the Stanley Market and had a good tour of HK island. For dinner we met up with Clarissa (one of my London friends who now lives out in HK and she took us to an authentic Chinese restaurant where we gorged ourselves on food - thx Clarry). We also made it (via a local ferry and bus ride) to the Big Buddha on the hill (the largest freestanding one in the world) and then got the bubble car and subway back to the hotel for the start of our overland trip.

Having picked up the Intrepid group in HK we got the first of many buses to the Chinese border which passed without incident - in fact very smoothely. First impressions of China were how modern it was and how many new buildings there were (some still built with bamboo canes though :-) ). We then got an 18 hour train ride to the countryside where we visited a moiux (sp.??) minority community. It was very interesting to see how a chinese indigenous population still exists in the middle of nowhere... We ended up staying at a homestay in the village with some local families and whilst the food was great (as was the local "rice wine" (think neat vodka) - I had too much and ended up seeing it again at about midnight but was luckily supported home by two GAP year lads from Reid school in England - thanks lads) the state of the toilets was not (Erin has now adopted a whole new threshold of cleanliness - going through two logs into a tin can apparently changes you for life - something you can't come back from) - hahahaha

After leaving the homestay we ventured back onto the trains and buses and eventually crossed the Chinese border into Vietnam near a place called SaPa. The border crossing was (again) remarkably easy although slightly intimidating as the crossing was a bridge over the river (it still begged the question as to who paid for the upkeep of the bridge)...

We then picked up a minibus and got transferred to the hotel in SaPa and the start of our trekking (via four lovely little villages) to another local minority village where we stayed with a local family in their house. This time they at least had a "western" toilet so Erin was much happier - in fact so happy that she had the "happy water" whilst doing karaoke that made her so drunk she passed out beside two other lads (who ultimately also passed out).

I then trekked back to our local hotel whilst Erin got on a local scooter to save her the trek uphill (I still maintain it was the effects of the night before and not the hill that forced her to get the scooter ;-) )

So this afternoon we are heading for a 12 hour train ride to Hanoi and in the meantime are visiting the local markets to see what trinkets we can pick up... I think Erin also has her eye on a local massage (although hopefully not one with a happy ending :-)

Hope you are all well - send emails if you get bored..

A & E