Ha Giang to Meo Vac

Wow! What a journey!! I have lost count of the number of mountain passes we drove over, maybe six. The scenery has been spectacular as promised, we drove through a town called Tam Son and onto Yen Minh where we stopped for our lunch. However Andrew had set off cycling at 7.20am and we left at 8.20 am. We leap frogged with him waiting for him at the top of some big hills. At one pass we walked up to a war  memorial, and Michael wandered down a track  and found a semi ethnic boarding school with an adjoining pre school. We drove through very mountainous countryside with rice terraces and every available bit of land is cultivated. It really is a living landscape rather than other mountainous places we have been where the old terraces are neglected. As we drove further north we began to see more ethnic Hmong people in their traditional clothing...... riding on motorbikes .......with a phone clamped to their ears!!! 

The landscape changed to limestone karst and we crossed an amazing karst plateau with hill and rock formations reminiscent of the Yorkshire Dales.  Signs directed us to geocites, sea lions frozen in rock and a rock "book" showing the earth layers.

Earth books

There are sea lions in this photo.....honest!!

 Andrew had joined us at Yen Binh prior this section of the trip. He rode about 90km and is planning to ride a big mountainous circuit tomorrow. 

Before Duong Van  we stopped to visit  a Hmong Kings palace, according to our 'guide' Andrew, it was built for a Hmong  chief to buy his loyalty. It was very interesting.

Hmong palace

We then drove over the " most dangerous pass"

We saw lots 'walking bushes'!...... Children and women carrying fodder, we only saw one man doing this job!!!

And, finally, we arrived at Meo Vac and found the Auberge de Meo Vac which is a restored Hmong house. Thankfully there is a boy here who speaks good English.....he asked if we had booked.....yes and paid in advance for two nights....then we saw a couple of girls running off with bed linen, while another girl offered us some tea. The luggage was transported up the path by a cart. 

Auberge entrance and reception. Andrew negotiated a dinner with the young man and then we were told that the rooms were ready.

Downstairs is reminiscent of a rustic mountain hut however 

Up the wooden stairs and here we are!

Sorry this isn't a very good pic!  It is reasonable bed and there is a heater!!! 

Dinner was downstairs in front of the fire .....but I am wearing  a merino top, a cashmere sweater, a quilted gilet...and a down jacket!!!!!  The dinner was very good, omelette, fried pork and onions a spicy sausage, green beans, a local veg a bit like spinach and rice......and fried tofu for Orlo.

Oh, and a few beers for the men!!!!

That's all for today, we might just try the rice wine!!