World Image issue 22 July 2015

One of my favourite songs is "Midnight train to
Georgia" by Gladys Night and the Pips which I
made my cabin-buddy Mike listen to as we
chugged along through the dark night on the
sleeper train that took us to Hanoi for day six of
the journey.
As soon as we had enjoyed lunch it was time
for a hike. Climbing the slippery hills was just
what I needed after all that travelling, to get the
blood pumping in my veins again.
In a tiny cabin for four I drifted in and out of
sleep to the rhythmical rocking of the train. At
4am the silence was broken by a rooster... After
13 hours on the train we arrived in Hanoi where
the travel continued on a four hour bus ride to a
village in the mountains, Mai Chau.
Our Homestay in Mai Chau
That night was spent at a rural homestay in one
o f t h o s e a w e s o m e s t i l t h u t s .
Lady Smiling
This is the home to some of the Thai minority
people, well known for their hospitality.
This place was stunning. The rural way of life
felt like stepping back in time yet again.
Surrounded by hills and rice-paddies, smoke
rising into the vast sky from the small fires
scattered across the fields, the sounds of
chickens and cows and cicadas, this place could
fill you with tranquillity.
Dinner was delicious local food cooked by the
family, rice wine was drunk from thimble sized
cups (luckily thimble sized, as that stuff is
potent), crickets (below) tried and tested, and
I'd like to quote my fellow traveller Pip to
describe the taste as she was absolutely spot on
when she squinted her eyes pensively and said
"It tastes a bit like.....shrimpy floor!"
But, of course, there was no time for
tranquillity!
Snack Break, Mai Chau
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