Refusing breakfast
As usual, when we get the chance, we have a lie in, especially because we’re getting a very long bus to Laos, and want to make sure we are rested. We both got up pretty late this morning and got talking to a dorm mate of ours, Tobi. He’s German, and we shared our plans and adventures, then decided to go for breakfast. The three of us were wandering for quite some time before decided on a place to eat. I went with a tuna sandwich, and Mat went for some bacon sandwich. It was probably the worst sandwich I’d ever seen. The sandwich was small and looked dry, and there was next to no tuna on it. When Mat received his, he was no better off. After giving them a chance to sort it out, we decided to leave because they were abysmal with no hope of change.
Tobi only had a beer for breakfast, fair play to him. He suggested a place close to the hostel where he had tried before. So the three of us ventured back up the hills to this restaurant, and he wasn’t wrong. We basically had a full English breakfast, and it was very nice. Good job Tobi! We headed back to the hostel after this where we met a fellow called Narish, an Indian traveller. The 4 of us spoke in the dorm for several hours, just regaling the tales of adventures we’ve all had. This is one of the best parts of travelling, being able to speak to people from all walks of life, hearing their stories, experiences, opinions, and tips. When it comes to backpacking like this, everyone is equal.
To the border!
Having spoken to them for several hours, it was getting late, and a taxi had arrived for us that would transport us to the bus. We said goodbye to Tobi and Narish, as well as Qian too. It was only a short trip in car to the bus station, but it made me realise that we’d hardly seen what Sapa had to offer. We’d mostly been out in the villages, so it’s not a bad thing. The bus was late as usually, it’s not even a surprise anymore. Mat and I were pretty much the first at the bus terminal, except a Czech girl called Mischa.
We got speaking to Mischa and shared our journeys and plans for the road. After a while of talking, she was heading to Laos too and it seems like she’d be willing to tag along with us. The more the merrier I say. Plus, too much of Mat is a bad thing, haha! The terminal got more and more crowded, with both people and luggage. Not everyone got our bus though, they were heading elsewhere, perhaps to Hanoi. Once we were on the bus, we were all talking and having a laugh, I think I’m going to enjoy this.
I didn’t know it at the time, but the bus had basically been driving on a cliff edge for hours…the driver must have concentration and nerves of steel. The ride was very bumpy which made it all the more difficult to get to sleep.
