The bus for Cat Ba isn’t till seven this evening, so we decided to take a little trek up to the viewpoint above Ha Giang. And it did prove quite a trek – up and up and up to the top of what turned out to be a pretty sizeable hill.
By the time we got to the top – where we found a pleasant if unremarkable Buddhist temple – we’d long since shaken off any company. Perhaps just as well, since we were both sweating like pigs.
There was work going on towards the top – new steps being built, undergrowth being cleared – which is where we came across the little cluster of hand tools. I was particularly struck by the machete – the way it was made, handle and all, from a single piece of cut and shaped steel plate.
After ten minutes rest at the top, back down and return to the hotel, where they’ve been kind enough to give us use of a room so we can shower and change for the journey. Just an hour and a half to go now…almost time to pop out for a light early supper before zero hour.
PS 22.24 on the night bus to Cat Ba…
