Travellive 4 - 2018

to get your kids excited about a trip, try to get them to go camping. it can be an invaluable gift for
the child's memory, and a fantastic way to for family members to spend time together.
The sound of the insects at night
was stunningly clear. To be
sleeping among the vast valley
surrounded by mountains, the
feeling was indescribable. We
were excited and nervous at the
same time. We laid a thick blanket
on the ground for added comfort
before snuggling inside our
sleeping bags. The fact that we had
a long day, plus a little corn wine
at dinner made everyone even
more sleepy. We slept like babies
throughout the night.
SHOULD
ñ Find a safe and convenient location.
ñ Find a clear site where there is sand or dry
ground to set up the tents.
ñ Camp under a tree to block the wind and
reduce heat.
ñ Avoid areas where the ground can get
wet when it rains.
ñ Avoid where it is too windy.
ñ Mark the campsite for all members.
ñ Keep clean, and protect the environment
(it's always best to leave a campsite neater
than you found it).
SHOULD NOT
ñ Stay too deep into the valley, or mountain,
where it is the coldest and wettest.
ñ Camp near areas that animals hunt or
their caves to avoid unwanted night visits.
ñ Steer clear from areas that are prone to
floods and flash floods. Keep a safe distance
from streams, rivers, lakes, and the sea.
ñ Keep food in your tents, as this will attract
animals.
ñ Go unprepared. A little preparation goes a
long way in making a trip a positive one.
slEEpiNG iN a tENt aND BlEND iN
With NatuRE
Memories of the trip
to the "dinosaur's
backbone" in Ta Xua,
Son La are still fresh in
my mind. It was a long
and arduous journey,
but we took our time to explore the
amazing beauty of Ta Xua. Just
before it got dark, we saw a village
down the valley, and decided to
head toward it in search of a place
to stay. The trail that led us down
was quite narrow and slippery. It
took us a while to get down, but we
were lucky to have found a modest
H'mong family who agreed to
let us stay the night. The white
flowers on the side of the road
were in full bloom, creating a truly
picturesque scene of the Chung
Chieng Village.
The next morning, we found our
host family had risen before us.
The older daughter turned on
the radio, and played a H'mong
love song while the wife was
cooking noodles for the children
to eat before sending them off to
school and tending the buffalo.
We brushed our teeth next to the
buffalo's stall before boiling water
to make ourselves some tea to
enjoy in the misty morning of the
mountain area. Life here was so
serene and peaceful, and we were
glad to simply forget about our
normally hectic lives.
fEEliNG totally alivE
You can easily find campsites
among the flower fields in Ninh
Thuan, the pine forest in Dalat, the
forest in the Central Highland, and
the Bidoup Nui Ba National Park
as well as a number of beaches and
sand dunes around the country.
It is a one-of-a-kind experience
that you will not find when going
on tours. Camping is becoming
a popular trend among young
travelers.
Tran Anh Tuan, a traveler with
a love for camping in Ho Chi
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TRAVELLIVE