We had our breakfast noodle soup and headed up the mountain north and west from Sa Pa on those good old twisty roads.
We were already high and we worked our way even higher. Soon we transitioned into temperate zone flora. I saw fields of roses, other flowers (even some hollyhocks), greenhouses and fields full of trellises growing chayote and some other squash.
We stopped at Silver Falls to admire the scenery, try to get photos of Mt Fansipan (at 3143 meters the highest peak) and visit permanent souvenir stands set up on one side of the road and the portable displays set up on the other.
Fansipan was reluctant to show her head and stayed wreathed in clouds all morning but the souvenir stands were different and interesting. I saw many varieties of live orchids, fresh honey and honeycomb, ginseng roots, other roots and herbs and selections of all the local fruits and vegetables.
Honey sellers
Fresh dug ginseng
One of the many orchids
From there we went on up into cool and misty conditions as we entered the clouds. The cool didn't last long though as the road dipped down and around Fansipan headed generally southwest.
We stopped for a few minutes to watch a local construction crew moving a load of dirt to prepare the ground for a new house.
As we were driving along we spotted another waterfall so doubled back and drove up a side road to the base of the falls for photos and a short rest.
One of the things I like about this trip is the flexibility and spontaneity. In this case we saw the waterfall but w also saw a wonderful valley filled with rice paddies all nourished by the water that was reused many times as it was diverted from one paddy to the next all the way down the valley.
Wish I could post more photos but it seems five is the limit for this portable app. No complaints though since it is amazing that I can do even this much while traveling through the back country of northern Vietnam.
We were already high and we worked our way even higher. Soon we transitioned into temperate zone flora. I saw fields of roses, other flowers (even some hollyhocks), greenhouses and fields full of trellises growing chayote and some other squash.
We stopped at Silver Falls to admire the scenery, try to get photos of Mt Fansipan (at 3143 meters the highest peak) and visit permanent souvenir stands set up on one side of the road and the portable displays set up on the other.
Fansipan was reluctant to show her head and stayed wreathed in clouds all morning but the souvenir stands were different and interesting. I saw many varieties of live orchids, fresh honey and honeycomb, ginseng roots, other roots and herbs and selections of all the local fruits and vegetables.
Honey sellers
Fresh dug ginseng
One of the many orchids
From there we went on up into cool and misty conditions as we entered the clouds. The cool didn't last long though as the road dipped down and around Fansipan headed generally southwest.
We stopped for a few minutes to watch a local construction crew moving a load of dirt to prepare the ground for a new house.
As we were driving along we spotted another waterfall so doubled back and drove up a side road to the base of the falls for photos and a short rest.
One of the things I like about this trip is the flexibility and spontaneity. In this case we saw the waterfall but w also saw a wonderful valley filled with rice paddies all nourished by the water that was reused many times as it was diverted from one paddy to the next all the way down the valley.
Wish I could post more photos but it seems five is the limit for this portable app. No complaints though since it is amazing that I can do even this much while traveling through the back country of northern Vietnam.
posted from Bloggeroid
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