Night Train to Lao Cai

The kids were psyched! Our own door, and only 4 beds. We were given little gift bags with water and a toothbrush with you guessed it, Palmolive for the teeth. This is a tidy looking cabin with the beds neatly made, however you can see the signs of recent use like the big brown spot on my pillow. I have a mild form of OCD and trips like this are good therapy, and my therapist, Patti, said just flip it over. The blanket that I was using to keep me warm all night might have been flipped as well. Was I sleeping with the last persons feet in my face? Eww.

Morning after Night Train to Lao Cai -

Wow, that was the most insanely rough train ride I have ever tried to sleep through. Much of the trip was like a mild four wheel drive adventure. Whipping down the rails with the car wildly bouncing up and down and swaying side to side. The clickity-clack of the wheels over the rail joins can be a nice metronome, but it was drowned out by a symphony of other rattles, clanks and squeaks. I think at every occasion where was drifting off, I was jolted awake knowing that this time we were off the rails.

We are rolling through the hills now with the morning light and a bit of rain to make things shine. There are many little collections of a few shelters and rice patties that appear to constitute villages. A number of them terrace patties into the hillside to maximize their growing capacity.

In Hanoi yesterday we saw these kids playing a game like badminton but with their bodies and using the bird like a futbol. The guy in blue had a killer semi-bicycle kick that was this games version of the volleyball spike, pretty cool.

I wore 3/4 pants in Hanoi yesterday, they were the perfect length for the weather and quite the fashion statement. They are like woman's 'capri' pants, but these are man-pri's. I am not sure if these will ever come to any mass style appeal, but I can pretend that I am from New York and parading the latest in hipster fashion. If all of North Vietnam is wearing these soon it is my fault.

Next post will have Bac Ha & Sa Pa - images are already in the folder of the same name.