Vietnam D5 - Sapa Part Two

Good Morning Blog,

I was amazed that I took over 200 photos for today's post... I felt exhausted because I knew I would have a lot to write. Anyway, back to the topic. Sapa's Fansipan Halong Bay and Ninh Bình are must-see destinations among Vietnam's diverse landscapes.

I awoke early today to check the window, hoping to see the sunrise, but then I realised it was foggy.

I was worried that today's Fansipan would be foggy and freezing. I do not take colds well, and I was afraid that my mother would also be unable to cope with the cold.

Check out the scenery at the hotel's breakfast restaurant.

I had nothing to eat from the hotel's breakfast menu, so I went back to sleep for a while... However, there was little time to rest...

We were taking a morning walk to Sapa Station.

Check out this good genetic human; he simply wears shorts in cold weather and the cold does not bother him anyway.

The narrow street of Sapa begins its activity quite early in the morning.

I really like the exterior of this building because it incorporates cultural elements (I didn't include the flag).

It stands out among the other structures.

We arrived at Sapa Station and the tour guide asked us to follow him closely because it was crowded, but it should be fine to take a quick photo of my mother with the decor, right? 😊

Interesting Miao-themed seats here.

I adore carpeted floors, but I also enjoy pattern-tiled floors like this one, which resembles a carpet.

Several seating areas are available before we reach the cable platform; perhaps the elderly will find this area useful while waiting for the cable car.

We got our tickets and had to wait in the queue to get in the cable car.

I was well prepared to handle the chill later but still nervous...

A sizable cable car has arrived. The ambience here resembles Victorian architecture.

...and undoubtedly, Victoria's approach emphasizes how everyday individuals should conform to a sardine can.

Some passengers felt uncomfortable with this nerd attempting to take photographs here.

It's time to take off! Mountain, farmland, green, and foggy scenery—I must thank those who helped build the cable cars and tall towers that connect us; without them, we would not be able to visit these incredible places.

We stopped somewhere. So, where are we? This looks like a train station in Europe.

(Credit tour guide) This place has a Harry Potter vibe, but it is cleaner and newer, with an architect-like black-and-white tiled floor, a Roman clock face in the back, a simple train station shelter, and a train-like cable car. Just give me a different feeling so I do not think about Hanoi's crowded streets.

Aunties, Come on, smile for the camera.

(credit one of the passengers) I asked one of the passengers to assist us in taking family photos, unaware that they, too, desired it as we waited our turn to take a family photo with this train-like cable car. The cable car began to move, wasting that family's opportunity for a family photo; I apologise for that.

Oh, nice location, is there a hotel nearby?

There are some beautiful gardens to explore here, but we did not have enough time to visit them all.

Oh, man. I love the finished full-grown off-plant structure; this was not a simple or quick project.

Oooo, white horse! Charming, but a little shy.

Silent Hill, it is nice!

The fog is not as thick as in Genting Highlands, but it is definitely colder up here.

There is a beautiful sculpture or structure here that wraps around in the colours of their cultural ethics.

The tall ceiling at the Hoang Lien Station

This is our second time queuing for a cable car to take us somewhere higher. I began to imagine how much we had spent on the tickets...

Oh, a spacious cable car!

However, they wanted to pack as many passengers as possible... I assumed that was how things worked unless we wanted to pay more for our own private cabin.

Do you know why I chose the edge seat?

So that I can see more!

Appreciate the scenery of the stunning landscapes.

Transitioning from an unclear area to a well-defined perspective.

However, having my face foggy and a clear background would be a better option. Okay, let us focus on the outside scene.

OMG! One of the moments I will never forget: I expected a foggy day at our next destination because I had heard there had been snow the week before, but look at this: we break through the fog and have a clear, amazing, unobstructed view of the high mountains!

Look at the cable's shadow on the clouds! It was far from us, and I quickly snapped it with 3x zoom.

(credit my cousin) Yippee! Clear, breathtaking mountain views, including me.

Another mountain greets us from a distance! I am not as fortunate as others to see Mount Fuji, but this one suffices.

I have always envied those who travel to see heavenly scenes above the clouds; today is my chance to visit heaven for a short time.

Looking in awe, I began to consider how the mountains formed, their geographical location, how world plates collided, and how insignificant we humans are; Mother Nature deserves our respect.

I am still in awe of the moment we broke free from the fog or cloud, and I am thankful that our highlight trip was not ruined by bad weather.

Checking out the mountain ridges and forested areas made me feel small.

We arrived at a restaurant lobby, where you can relax if you do not want to go climbing. After all, it is not a bad option.

Can you see the stairs here? It will be everywhere!

Wow! A clear blue sky! I love it! Mr Sun was at full power!

(Credit my cousin) I was astonished to find that there was no strong wind in this clear blue sky.

Smile, Ladies!

The tour guide told us, we had to climb some stairs up and take another cable car up to the summit. 

What a lovely cabbage here. Hahaha!

What made this look amazing, is how they brought enough resources to build this structure.

Time to climb up the stairs. I should be able to manage it.

If there was a lesser crowd, I would spend more time here trying to get the right angle.

On the bright side, today's crowd is actually considered not bad already.

But I would take more of the scenery photos. 😁

I was wondering, people who stay in this place, what is their lifestyle will be?

My favourite goddess is Guanyin (觀音), also known as the Goddess of Compassion.

Thank you for blessing the locals and people around the world; I will do my part to bless others as well.

What kind of structure should be constructed on top of the mountain, with such a beautiful view? A theme park, hotel, residential property, or massive telescope? Yes, establish a place of worship where people can connect and feel closer to Heaven.

I am really impressed by how they built this place.

Come on, Mother. You need to learn how to smile. Haha

Oh! The moment when there are fewer tourists! Snap snap snap

What a peaceful scene.

Miss Sky has a soft side, and it is wonderful to see this side of you.

Okay, third time taking the cable car. We were fortunate that the queue was short. In fact, taking the cable car here is quite costly; otherwise, you must climb to the summit.

As the cable car ascended, I observed some of the scenery that provided a glimpse of what awaited us upon disembarking.

Take a look at the steps to the summit; they are quite tall!

Isn't this view truly beautiful?

Observing the mountains and their scenery humbles me even further.

The Vietnam flag moving along with the wind is a beautiful sight.

This is the summit point of Fansipan. Sometimes I wonder how they will know this is the highest point around here. How did they measure it?

Hmm, 3.143m.... Are they referring to 3.143 million or 3.143 meters? Are they referring to this flag pole? Haha!

I believe they meant 3,143 meters (3.143 kilometres).

No need for my caption, can you vibe with what I felt at that moment? Simply breathtaking!

My concerns about going to Fansipan when the weather is extremely cold, windy, and slippery, making it difficult for elderly people like my mother to climb the stairs, were all alleviated.

I would love the opportunity to stay in the mountains, away from all distractions.

As I continued to explore, while the elderly simply took the cable car back, I came across another platform with a summit... I wonder why there are two?

I saw a tourist attempting to photograph herself with the Vietnam flag, and I set up my camera ahead of her so that I could retrieve the flag after she had used it; however, the wind was strong and chaotic, causing the flag to move randomly and making it unsuitable for a photo, so I offered to hold the flag for her; it turned out great!

After I took over, she offered to hold the flag for me, but... At the very least, she tried, and I doubt I could have done better without her help. Thank you, lady. 🙏

I seemed to be the only one who wanted to take the stairs back.

The tour guide explained why we were paying to take the third cable up to the summit and then descend the stairs to the lobby, which was easier than going up.

We arrived at another temple here.

The temple here is clean and peaceful.

It's too bad I don't have much time to stay and just take photos.

The serenity provided by this location allows us to concentrate on contemplating our life's purpose; whether we seek answers from the ordinary or from beyond the questions themselves.

I am confident that other places will provide such deep-thought opportunities; personally, even in my hometown, I can always engage in such deep thought.

I observed that this location is remarkably clean. The absence of birds is likely due to their non-visit to this temple at such an elevation. It is no surprise that this place is so serene and tidy.

I really love this beautiful Ying-Yang diagram!

Why can these plants grow so well in this location? Is it due to weather conditions?

When birds are present, the pagoda is usually not spared.

When I looked at this view, one song came to mind: "Shooting Stars by Bag Raiders".

For now, this is my wallpaper!

Hmm, fewer tourists are going there; I suppose most of them do not want to waste time walking and climbing. Another big Guanyin statue here.

Further information on Guanyin, who is a Buddhist bodhisattva and is also referred to as Avalokitesvara, her name in Sanskrit.

The term Avalokiteshvara is translated as Guanyin in Chinese, which can be interpreted as "the one who listens to the cries of the world." She has my respect. 🙏

Intense and unobstructed sunlight.

I did not get a chance to check out the stairs until now, but they are at least 12-15cm tall.

Every step may be dangerous for those with tall, large feet. I stuck my foot close to the step and still got an allowance, so I needed to be careful.

Next up is Sakyamuni Buddha, who is not far away.

Look at the long staircase from a distance; if you did not take the cable car, you would have to climb to the summit.

I love how this lotus-like succulent grows on the ground rather than in a pot, allowing it to reach its full potential.

Okay, let us continue. I had a time limit, and I was the only one who wanted to climb down to explore the area, so I should not keep others waiting for me.

What are you waiting for? Let's go!

Sakyamuni Buddha aka Shì jiā móu ní (釋迦牟尼)

Shi-Jia-Mo-Ni which means "Able to be kind, able to give the most immense kindness, the saint." 

(credit tour guide) Will need your help to achieve the ultimate goal of humanity's awakening.

(credit tour guide) I will be there to assist. 🙏

It was time to return down these long stairs, and the long stairs made me nervous until I forgot to photograph the panoramic views of the landscape.

I had to take a break because I was worried about getting dizzy.

Check out the stairs. If normal elevation is still manageable, but at this altitude, breathing may be difficult; walking up the stairs is fine, but not down.

Finally, I found a pit stop near where I took the cable car; please allow me to rest here.

Hmm, the crowds had subsided slightly, so it was time to take some more pictures here. Do you know why Mr. Sun looked unusual? It was because of my broken filter.

I spent some time interacting and posing with Mr Sun; I would like to take some creative photos, but that would require a lot of assistance from a human.

This location was previously overcrowded with tourists, but it has now been cleared, angled, and lit for photography.

Interestingly, they used succulents as Christmas tree decorations.

Simple wooden reindeer. Oops! My cousin called to tell me they were waiting in queue for the cable car back to the base for lunch and asked me to hurry; fortunately, I was only one flight of stairs down.

My mother and aunties were disappointed that I was the slowest on the tour, claiming that I am a selfish person who does not care about others. Furthermore, not everyone returns from the summit via stairs, and I was told to return at a certain time, which I did, so I was not considered late.

Oh well... I do not expect anyone to understand, which is normal. Life is full of ups and downs; one minute you are in heaven, and the next you are back where you belong. Will I be able to bring heaven (in my mind and soul) to earth?

We love Sapa.

Many Chinese will imagine this hulu, bottle ground to be painted with gold as a prosperity symbol, or left in its original material; however, why can not it be formed with other random items - individually and collectively?

Anyway, I tried not to argue and remained quiet; my cousins understood my situation and knew what was best for everyone.

Misty weather, so where were we going next?

Next stop - Cầu kính Rồng Mây

Translated as "Rong May Glass Bridge" or "Sapa Glass Bridge".

Oh, it is a tall structure!

We were told to get on a minibus.

I sit in the front seat because I am overweight.

At least my constipation problem has been resolved, so I am fine.

The vehicle drove up the slope, turned right and arrived at the second car park, where it took a lift to the building (pictured), followed by another vehicle that drove higher up and directly behind it. What?! Just to avoid the effort of climbing up? I suppose the elderly cannot do so.

I took a closer look at the tall lift leading to the glass bridge.

Oooo, a short-limbed cat with a tiger-striped body—how adorable! Yet the cat is weary of knowing it is cute.

We entered a long tunnel and queued to take this big elevator.

Big but packed like sardine fish.

Oooo! I wondered how big is this place?

On the bright side, the crowds were less congested today.

Hmm, the tourists seemed to be searching for something in a bag... What were they doing there?

Oh, Did you see that photo taken by the photographer? I think they should make it digitally with a small fee, to be more profitable.

Ah! These were the things that the tourists were searching for just now. We were told to wear soft shoes and gloves to avoid scratching and dirtying the glass panels.

Let me show you around.

I was walking in thick air!

This place is large, and I wanted to visit those places, but we were limited by time...

Family photo on the glass panels.

(credit to my cousin) She took a wefie with her back camera (a higher-quality image); she is skilled, as I can not photograph because the shutter is on the screen.

One thing that excited me was the fact that there was no one else on this glass platform! Most of them had walked further to explore the area, but we did not have time, so we stayed near the lift and took more photos.

(credit one of the tour mates) I love how the words glow golden here.

Let us try taking a picture here. It was so bright that I could not see my own camera screen.

Trying to get a shot for myself.

Ooo, the fog began to consume the bridge.

Check out these rainbow stairs that drew a lot of attention from tourists; the proudest moment was that there was no one in the shot!

And ideal for a group shot, but people will undoubtedly enter the scene.

Ooo, the fog had lifted; now it was time to explore the lift area, which was deserted.

Looking at the mountain, having a mountain as a backdrop for your home or business was a good idea, also known as feng shui.

I wanted to try it, but it is too far away and will take some time to walk there.

I figured we would just cover the safe areas.

We thought the fog would never go away, but once we got into position, it dissipated.

Let me show you an example of how the fog cleared in seconds, revealing the stunning landscape.

This section of the glass bridge was so quiet that I could take pictures with ease.

However, I was feeling tired... My body needed a power nap, but I did not have one... My eyes felt heavy... Especially now that there was a long queue to get on the lift.

I tried to film a video of the scene as seen from the lift, but I aimed in the wrong direction, which was straight, and the entire scene appeared to be stationary except for the metal lines flashing upwards.

It was around 4 p.m., and Mr Sun was about to disappear behind the mountains; the tour guide predicted that the fog would return, the sky would darken, and we would be unable to visit two more locations, so we needed to move quickly.

So, was I delusional? The crack seemed to get longer...

Next destination - Sapa Heaven Gate

A Bubbha statue with multiple heads. Some believe it is devilish, but the original depiction is that Mercy Buddha always looks out for people in all directions, regardless of where they are.

This palm was originally from another location in Vietnam, but the park's owner wanted to recreate it here.

Oh no... The fog was approaching, and we rushed into the park to complete our checklist... I do not like the rushed trip, but it seemed unavoidable.

My cousin took a better picture of that palm from a different angle because they no longer wanted to climb and instead chose to relax on the bus and explore outside.

The tour guide instructed us to continue along the path and climb a few flights of stairs.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to see the beautiful cloud-covered landscapes described by other bloggers.

I came across this... Is not this romantic? I am just the third person in this scene, after the two main characters.

I did my best to climb up, but the air was thin, cold, and windy, making it difficult; fortunately, the elderly did not participate.

While others had helpers take their pictures, I decided to do it myself. Behold, Jeff the Loner!

If you missed out on the Fansipan Summit, here's another option. But this is not higher than Glass Bridge.

Oooo! No one is taking pictures here? Such a waste, especially since the background was nothing but fog. I imagine this will be a popular spot once the skies clear.

Should I even try climbing all the way up? The staircase to Heaven is built narrower at the top to give the illusion that it leads to Heaven.

I decided not to put myself in danger and to be cautious. At the very least, there are no tourists at this location, which is a blessing for me.

Ah, the legendary Heaven Gate was in front of me, just a few steps ahead!

Heaven Gate 💖💗💕💓

I arrived in Heaven! If I photoshop this image and add some clouds, I will be in heaven.

I will pretend I am in heaven.

Ooo, lovely rocks come together, and I simply absorb the concentrated power.

Hmm, where was everybody? Perhaps they were on their way back down, but I felt compelled to look further into this.

Pay my respects and take a photo, then it is time to go!

I wanted to go there, but I was a little late. Unfortunately, rushing with time does not provide the luxury of time.

This reminded me of the Haw Paw Villa in Singapore.

But we could only stay here for 15 minutes... So it was time to get back to the bus; otherwise, the driver who had driven it down the twisted road in the dark would be in danger.

Next destination - Sliver Waterfall Sapa

The tour guide asked who wanted to go up and see the waterfall, and only three of us were interested.

Free entry it seemed.

Stairs... To be honest, my feet went jelly, but I had to persevere.

I was left behind because I wanted to take some photos here, but the sky was getting dark... There is no time to make adjustments or strike a pose.

How many steps are left... Trying to regulate my breathing.

ENDLESS The waterfall from the top piqued my curiosity about where and how the water continued to flow.

Almost reaching the top.

Ooo, most of them had already cleared and were about to climb down, so I had to pick up the pace.

Oh no... My camera dropped again... My screen protector glass has cracked. I am being careless.

The pictures may make you think it was still bright, but it wasn't; I increased the brightness because it was darker.

Check out Silver Waterfall in Sapa! But where's the silver part?

Okay, it was already getting darker without editing.

Unfortunately, I do not have enough time to fully appreciate the waterfall here. Such a rush...

A dragon watches over this waterfall; I am not sure what it is called, but dragons are associated with waterfalls in Asian culture and Leviathans in Western culture.

We arrived at our hotel around 5:30 p.m. (can you believe how dark it was then?) and were given an hour to relax before dinner.

We decided to explore Sapa's street after dinner, but we did not get very far because it was cold and raining lightly, and the majority of the shops sold roughly the same products.

Sapa's foggy atmosphere made the illuminated buildings appear holy.

I wanted to explore further but did not have much money... I decided to stop here and return for a good night's sleep, while also checking to see if the swimming pool was still open.

Speaking of holy vibes, it was not all that holy... I took two photos of exploited children (my blog posts were taken down with a warning until I removed the photos): boys lying around like beggars and girls dancing... To be honest, I feel so bad for them, but I can not do much to help in their situation... I hope Heaven gives them the purest souls to bear the long, cold days of their lives....

I checked my camera filter lens again; the hairline crack had spread from one edge to the other, already affecting photo quality, and the crack only made things worse, so thank goodness my camera was protected.

Overall, we had a great time exploring Sapa, and I would love to return if given the opportunity and sufficient wealth. For the time being, it will be saved as a lovely memory in my blog. I will not say much, and I will end my blog post here.

Jeff