Journey to Hoàng Su Phì (To the Rice Terraces of Vietnam) 9 — The Charm of Trekking

I've never really exercised much, so I was a little nervous, but off we went trekking, aiming for the observation deck up on the mountain. We followed along behind the local dad who was our guide.

It's not a mountain trail as such, but a path where water buffalo take their walks, running through fields and continuing on toward the observation deck — a short course of about four hours. The weather was that delicate sort where it looks like it might rain but never quite does, yet with all its ups and downs it made for a delightful walk.

Besides water buffalo, chickens roam freely too. With chicks in tow

On a trail through greenery and streams, sometimes reaching waterfalls, the scenery that suddenly opens up is a joy

Our goal was the observation deck on top of the mountain next door, but contrary to my prediction of "there's no way we'll make it all the way over there~," it was surprisingly close and we got there easily lol Well, that's partly because he gently guided us along the easy route, and since we kept dawdling and stopping along the way, the older gentleman attending us also taught us all sorts of things about the trees, flowers, and grasses growing along the side of the path.

This is a rare banana blossom. The banana flower itself isn't unusual, but the banana buds you see lined up at the greengrocer's are a dark maroon color, still in bud form. I never imagined it would turn this gorgeously red and gaudy. Incorporating nature as a tool is quite an ordinary thing too — by cutting notches into a thick bamboo stalk, it becomes a ladder.

It looks like I'm about to fall over, but the locals probably glide right up, don't they~ It's a beautifully efficient shape with nothing wasted.

Taro leaves by the waterway? They grow big, so use them as umbrellas when it rains

The feed bags that are essential to the local people's work. Paired with a nón lá, they look really cool, don't they? And so, my delightful trekking still goes on and on~ Relocation Life Ranking