After all the conferences we took a side trip with the sisters and Elder and Sister Jones to Sopa. This is an all night train ride to the mountains in Northern Vietnam. After the train ride it is an 1 1/2 hour bus trip up the mountain. It is stunningly beautiful with it's terraced farms and ethnic Vietnamse people. While we were waiting for the train we walked through some streets to find a place to eat and then went back to the tour place which at first wasn't too impressive, but the people were great and all turned out very well. We waited in this narrow hall and got on our rain gear because it really started to pour. I saw a few rats running back and forth, but waited until they were out of sight to go upstairs to the tour office!
Waiting at the train was a wet experience.
We had very nice berths and shared our little room with the sisters. They took the top which we were very appreciative of.
Some of the sights and scenes from the train in the early morning hours and the bus ride up to Sopa.
Once we got there, we changed clothes because you sleep in your clothing on the train, and off we went to our first tour. We met our little Hmong guide who was 19 years old and had a baby. Her husband and sister would meet her when we stopped for a break, and she would feed the baby.
As we were walking down the street to get on a little trail, the people were waiting for customers.
Look closely and you will see a little hand sticking out behind this woman's back. Many carry their babies in pouches on their backs. Most people who dress in the native clothing are tour guides, but some people still wear this clothing because it is all they have. We are at the bottom of the street getting ready to go on a path down the bottom of a ravine.
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