Roosters really need an internal clock reset, 12:30am wake up just is not right. Pretty much wide awake, watched a firefly trapped in the room looking for his way out, it is very very dark so fun to watch. I have never seen so many fireflies, it was like little flashlights going off and on when we were on the deck last night.
Decent time to get moving, Andre goes downstairs to get our clothes we left hanging outside, they may be wetter than last night, there is so much dew.
It is still so foggy, but Toan told us as we walk today it will get much better.
What a morning, we start off walking directly on the path beside the homestay going downhill. I am so glad we don't have to walk back up again. Only walked 8km then called it a day at lunch time when the heat really settled in.
We happened across a man making baskets for rice by hand, more amazing terraces of rice, needed to take our shoes off to cross a brook, jungle of bamboo trees, ducks coming home for their lunch, a couple coming home from the market with their purchases (this is a 7 km trek each way to town down then uphill), a woman weaving different things to purchase, grass being washed in baskets for the buffalo, walking over rickety bamboo bridges, and scenery that looks like a postcard.
Our driver picks us up and we are on our way to our next homestay. We first do 2 quick stops for provisions for lunch and dinner tonight.
Our homestay is about 1 km along an extremely bumpy road that I am not sure what 2 cars would do if they ever met. The last 100 yards I'm pretty sure is not designed for a car, but somehow we made it.
Stuff is unloaded, wet clothes are put outside to dry, not as humid here so it should dry quickly.
Toan has made us noodle soup for lunch with egg. A perfect lunch.
Andre and I go for a swim in the waterfall just down the road from us. It is cold and beautiful. Back to the homestay for a rest before maybe a hike later this afternoon. We will go back to the waterfall maybe later this afternoon to explore a trail that leads to more pools.
This homestay is really nice, we again have our own bungalow. We have 3 beds and the middle seems to have a soft mattress, yeah. No frogs here, but plenty of roosters and I hear many cicadas.
A word about bathrooms, yep bathrooms. Last night our homestay sink was very strange, it drained onto the floor and then through a drain hole in the opposite corner that is also used for the shower drain. So, brush your teeth or wash your hands you are going to be standing in whatever drains from the sink. Today's homestay sink is different, no sink. Yep a shower nozzle sticking out of the wall that does double duty as the sink. Thankfully both toilets seem perfectly fine, and neither drain directly on to the floor.
At 4pm we are ready for another little walk. Toan takes us to the town above us, really above us. It is a steep walk up, Andre and I were dripping with sweat. Still hot and did I mention steep? Near the top we came across a couple trying to turn their motorcycles around, Google definitely sent them off track. Toan helped her turn hers around, I told them they made a very good decision not taking the local route. Got them sorted where to go for their homestay and Toan asks me if I think I can do the shortcut. Another first done walking through rice fields. The pathway is not very wide, I am glad to have the bamboo walking sticks he made for us yesterday. Toan also picked some green leaves yesterday that he used for wrapping our spring rolls.
We walk around the small town at the top and see how people live here. Children go to primary school then help on the farms. Girls are married around 15, the girl at our homestead is 15 and has a boyfriend, they will be married this winter. This afternoon boys were climbing trees and jumping into the waterfall ponds, can't help but wonder if the older boy is about to be married, youth ends very young here.
Finish our walk back down the steep hill, manage with no falls. We are so hot and clothes so sticky that we decide to just go to the waterfall again in our clothes. The water is so nice and cool it is wonderful. The couple that we met earlier on bikes are there as well, they thank us again for getting them turned around and on the right track. One other couple is there as well, their homestay is at the top of the hill, I would definitely not have been so happy there. Toan told us when he organizes these tours he changes homestays, some tours spend 2 nights in same place. He has taken us on so many little paths there is no way we could have done all this on our own.
Back to our homestay from the waterfall and I feel something is not quite right with my tummy. First time I have felt this in over 6 weeks here, I am so disappointed. Off to supper and I force a little rice down, they have made so much food for us it is a little embarrassing. Back to our room, drug myself up hoping a good night's sleep will sort my tummy. Mosquito net tucked in. There must be a million moths here, and the light on in our room has attracted them all. This bungalow is in no way air tight, it would be impossible to keep the bugs out.
Todays Pictures:
Very foggy view this morning from our balcony
No views from the patio either
Our guide got crabs to take home in 2 days, not sure if it's a good idea. I guess they are land crabs
Still foggy looking the other way
Path up after the terraces, before coming back down
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