Rice Terraces - Hoang Su Phi

After a hearty breakfast we set off from the lodge under the leadership of our local guide, Tong, and were soon climbing steeply up narrow tracks through the forest. Every so often we would come across isolated local wooden houses,each with their own collection of livestock and rice terraces. Their most important animals were the water buffalo (see extra),used to plough and manure the paddy fields.

The houses were huge and solidly built but simple with one main large room in wnich the extended family live and sleep and a separate area with an open fire for cooking.

After an hour or so we reached Tong's home and were welcomed in to meet his family, including his charming but shy wife, his cute little daughter, his parents and brother-in-law , and to drink green tea. The extras show Tong, his mother and daughter preparing tea.

Not long after we left his home it started raining and soon the downpours were torrential and the tracks became streams. Undaunted we climbed on until we reached the house of another local family, where dinner was prepared for us on the open fire, using lengths of bamboo. (See final extra)

An essential part of their hospitality was a succession of toasts, requiring everyone to down shots of their home made rice wine (also in extras)The locals were pretty practised at it and it was a rather unsteady party that headed downhill after lunch, carrying with us an alluring aroma of wood smoke, rice wine, sweat and damp!

The view in the main photo was typical of those we enjoyed all day.

We eventually made it downto the village by late afternoon where the locals greeted us with friendly waves and smiles, tables and chairs were brought out in front of the local shop and we were able to buy and enjoy a refreshing beer or two.

Back at the lodge we enjoyed a much needed shower before a hearty dinner, more beer and a early night!