After Mitsos had breakfast, we left Bảo Lạc on the QL 34 and drove further North into the mountains. It was another one of those gray Vietnamese days before summer.
A new dam from the QL 4BAnother damAnd another damAnother one of those cloudy daysA village from the QL 4BNot sure where the forest workers work?
The Đồng Văn Karst Plateau Geopark
Located over 1,000 meters above sea level, the Đồng Văn Karst Plateau features narrow valleys and high, rocky mountain ranges rising to 2,000 meters. Over 80 percent of the surface in the area is covered with limestone. Fossils found here date back to 400 to 600 million years ago. Archaeological excavations found many stone tools from the Son Vi Civilization, dating back 10,000 to 30,000 years. Makes you wonder why the prehistoric men settled here out of all places. 17 ethnic minority groups live within the geopark, such as the Hmong, Dao, Lô Lô, Tày, and Nùng
Stone fields outside of Mèo VạcLimestone fields of the Karst PlateauTwo more curves to Mèo VạcMonument juts outside of Mèo VạcAgriculture and mountainsImagine this a few years ago – this view makes for a grim futureLimestone mountains with a bit of green leftSteep fields – hard working cowsLittle houses dotting the mountainsDeep down a river – you guessed it – with a damThe damThe farmers brought the bird to the field. This way the bird is not alone at home and will see something new.
Small village at the slope – makes one wonder if they are not afraid of a mudslideThe landscape is still nice – if you overlook the bits and piecesWhite cliffs at the Đồng Văn Karst PlateauThe trees on the mountain look like a heard of – horses or something…Extreme farmingOne day I have to go there with blue skyFarming all the way to the water lineThe upper road in the middle is the one I took the pictures before this oneIf only the Vietnamese would read this as wellMore stones and fields and housesAnd another monumentIf you look here you see how much forest there was beforeNot sure what they build – a road? But there is one soldier looking for the enemy.The first truck arrives and all the Hill Tribes are happy!The guy that holds the lightI like his stone wall
Nha Nghi Ngan Ha in Phố Cổ Street
Our roomThe rest of the roomShower and toiletA happy Greek is waiting for more food to come
Today’s drive: We drove 99 kilometers in 4 hours, 9 minutes, with gas and food stops.
My mother got me an Eurorail ticket when I was 15, and together with two friends, we adventured into France. This was the beginning of a new addiction. I do like to take pictures, so one thing leads to another. On this site, I want to share some of my pictures and some of my trips with you! Now I am on the road for more than 8 months every year. Visiting old friends and making new friends while exploring this big blue ball.
After Nong picked me up at the bus station in Udon Thani we went for some vegetarian food and then to her village. Since that is not a place where tourists go the guesthouse situation is not really good. One “homestay” far away from everything did start at 600 bath. A bit over my budget….
What better day to visit Buddha’s birthplace in Lumbini as the birthday of Jesus Christ? I think that does fit well. After a 10-hour trip in a taxi, a bus with a bus driver from hell, another bus, rickshaws, and finally a very small bus I did get to Lumbini at 6 in the evening….
To much smoke here now – it is like thick white haze for the last few days. That is not nice so I will leave tomorrow with the bus at 10 to Chiang Mai. Than I try to get a night bus to Ubon Ratchastani. From there with another small one to the border and…
One strange thing – that makes a lot of sense on the other side – i meet so many intelligent people. Yesterday we went home with the car. 2 French, 1 Austrian, 1 German and a Cambodian/Vietnamese mix. So the conversation started in English – than everybody did speak German than everybody did speak French…
