Postcards from Sapa

I envisioned gazing down on vibrant green fields of rice while hiking through lush mountains. Instead clouds obscured the view below as I slipped and slid through muddy trails. I was miserably cold at night on the trail, bundled up in multiple layers of sweaters and jackets, shivering under several tiers of blankets and comforters, and made the decision to head south to Hanoi the next day - the cold and the clouds were not worth it!

Clouds hovering over rice fields

Local Hmong woman sharing her lunch of black sticky rice dumplings (粽子)

Looking over the rice fields and village below

Water buffalo staring inquisitively at me

Somewhat of a clear day makes for better selfie photos!

Laundry hanging out to dry despite the cloudy day

The Muong Hoa river runs through Sapa

The trek ran through villagers' rice paddy fields

A home of a local villager, whose home I stayed in overnight

The owner of the homestay

Dinner at the homestay with the entire family

The trek winded through the Bamboo Forest

A curious..ox? grazing at the edge of the trail

My guide, a local Hmong woman