Mud glorious mud!

Our group have just returned from the muddiest trek they've ever done, from near Sapa (northern hill town) down to the little village of Thanh Phu. Unfortunately the much looked forward to swim in a warm spring In Ban Ho, our lunch stop on the way, was thwarted by an earlier landslide. But at least the monsoon rain was warm !! And to think that some people pay a great deal of money for health-enhancing mud wraps..we could enjoy head to toe mud for hours on end at no extra cost. Our homestay was fantastic. After a quick wash and change into dry clothes, just sitting on the verandah and looking out over rice terraces and other equally lush vegetation, we all felt human again. It was fun watching our meal being prepared over an open fire and a few of us perfected our spring rolling techniques. Dinner was absolutely delicious and there was so much of it. Lucky pigs that scored the leftovers! The whole group are pretty keen on Vietnamese food, overall, and willing to try new things, so mealtimes are a breeze. Nobody has even hunted out a hamburger or pizza yet (or if they have they've kept it secret!) Our H'Mong guide was funny and, as a bonus, really seemed to appreciate a sense of humour from the other side of the world. It would be interesting to know what she tells her family about us when she returns to her own village!

Janine