Sapa

I've had somewhat of an exorcist episode the last week. I don't know whether it's the food or just my non-smoking immune system but hopefully it buggers off soon. I know, what the hell Vietnam. So, I hadn't been up to much but I couldn't stick around Hanoi forever so I took advantage of the only storm-free days in Sapa and headed there. Because what's better for a cold than trekking through hills for 2 days!

Check. Out. THAT. View.

I mean just as well after a 6 1/2 hour bus journey including the most sweat-inducing, tense 2 hours of my LIFE, up the mountains. Who needs skydiving?! 

We spent the two days trekking through the local villages, accompanied by local Hmong women who belong to an ethnic group living in the valleys. I know everyone says it but honestly the photos don't do the place justice. The sheer scale of this place is incredible. 

Don't Get Attached to the Local Food

This is Puppydog and she followed me for around 10miles through the villages surrounding Sapa. Stray dogs are pretty common in Vietnam but most of them pretend to look like they belong somewhere. Puppydog didn't seem to belong anywhere. 

Dog meat is really popular in Vietnam, normally eaten at the end of the month to bring good luck and fortune. Being a vegetarian myself for moral and ethical reasons, you'd maybe think I'd see all animals the same in that respect but truthfully, I found this much more difficult to come to terms with. She took a particular shining to me, maybe she could sense the crazy-animal-lady in me. She didn't look at me nor did I pet her but she kept very close and often brushed up against my leg if a larger dog was close-by. Then she watched as we drove away and it took every ounce of strength in me to not smuggle her wee skinny body away. 

Bog Of Eternal Stench

My older brother used to threaten me with the Bog of Eternal Stench when we were younger if I wouldn't get him the TV remote or steal, a biscuit or something. The title speaks for itself I think but if you want more details Wikipedia it or watch Labyrinth, David Bowie's in it, nuff said. Now that we're all familiar with the bog of eternal stench, you might be thinking what sort of twisted monster child would threaten his 5 year old, cute as hell, chubby faced, Winnie the Pooh-loving sister with that? All I'm gonna say is what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Thanks bruv. And I'm positive I used to do the same thing to my younger brother when I grew smart enough.

The point of this little anecdote is my seemingly deep-rooted fear of all things swamp like or anything infamous bad-smelling. I realised this last night walking home, a route that I take all the time but that I know is home to skunks. One skunk last night apparently liked the look of me. Now you can tell me all you want that animals are most likely more scared of you than you are of them but I'm not listening because this little guy blocked my path home TWICE and I am 99% sure it was intentional. Luckily for me his brain is the size of a peanut and I outsmarted him in the middle of the road with a crazy fast direction change, you know like that thing footballers do when they pretend to go one way and they spin round and run in the opposite direction? I wish I'd looked that fancy..

My heart was beating at least 500 beats per minute and I definitely started to sweat and I could smell him and it smelled like what I imagined as a child the Bog of Eternal Stench to smell like.

But that's Vancouver.

Apologies for the massive absence in the recent months but lots of things have been going on and I promise to fill you in slowly.