October 12 Saturday. train to Sapa

October 12 Saturday. train to Sapa

Here we are, in a tiny compartment. Two double decker beds, me and Larry on the bottom bunks, Netsy and a Vietnamese tour guide for a dozen Dutch travelers on the top bunks. Tour guide in top bunk snores in a loud complex symphony.The train just started to move, 8:30PM. We'll arrive at 5:30 AM, then on to the market in Bac Ha. Earlier today we saw the museum of ethnology with exhibits of the many, many different different groups that make up the population here. In the early morning I was able to negotiate finding a place to install a phone SIM card successfully and, with the help of google translate, I got a diuretic at a pharmacy. 

Here's Netsy climbing up to her top bunk:

 

Middle of the night. Desperately have to pee. No idea where the bathroom is, how to unlock the door, where my shoes are, if is safe to open the door, what will be in the bathroom if I find it, if I can find my shoes, if I can open the door.  Finally decide to go for it. Door unlocks and slides open easily, bathroom, empty and well lit is right next door, clean, we'll stocked, regular, familiar setup. Done, back to bed, but sleep? Impossible!  I guess I'll write to the kids.