Vietnam

Here I am writing from the mountain village of Sapa in the far north of Vietnam, just a few marathons away from China. Met my mom last week in bustling Hanoi, spent our days there enjoying water puppet theater, chewing on braised frog legs and noodles, quaffing bia hoi in the beer halls and defending ourselves from various scamsters and hawkers. Finally escaped on a long overnight 9-hour train to the villages up north where we have encountered truly undeveloped rural life, beautiful handicrafts, torrential rain, rugged peaks and most impressively the tribal dzao and Hmong tribal folk who make and peddle their handicrafts throughout the streets and deep rice-field strewn valleys. Yesterday we were invited into a home where an old grandmother and her Hmong daughter hosted a meal for us after we met the daughter's crazed out curly-headed gnarly hippy American fellow. Our hike today down the mountainside from the town was worth it after fighting off the stomach monsters. Indescribable views were doubled by the beauty of the villagers and the crafts they were making and selling. These are amazingly strong and resilient people and they make me feel like a straight-up wuss. Coming from Japan it's nice to see a different part of Asia which is completely unique, and its contrast with the country I've been living in reminds me of the completely special place Japan has in the universe too.

Mom's holding up well and is gearing up for her new adventure, just trying to figure out what she's gotten herself into this time. I'll try to post more. Next up is the rocky Ha Long Bay.