Today I’ve completed the day-day events that occured during our adventure at Mt Fansipan recently. It’s just a summary and in bullet points.

Worth to note that I didn’t focus on the grammar or vocabulary at all, so I hope the message delivered as it is:

Fansipan climbing tales….

Day 1: Wednesday - Difficulty (2/10)

Move out from home approx at 9am, met up with Robert and Anders at the airport. Arrived at Hanoi 3 hours later.
Met with Ms Han, VietValue Travel Agent in Hanoi
We moved to Majestic Salute Hotel and Robert (and Anders :-)) to Sheraton.
Had dinner in Hotel with all.
We move out to Hanoi Train Station outbound to Lao Cai Station.
Zzzzzz!!!! In train….

Day 2: Thursday - Difficulty (6/10)

We arrived at Lao Cai Station at 6am
Then we took a bus to Sapa, arrived at 7am, had breakfast at Sapa hotel
Start moving out at 10am, with 4 porters, and 2 guides (Trung & Kean)
It was tough, we crossed big stream and took a rest. Put on ‘lime powder’ to avoid leeches…
Break at abandoned hut, had bread and eggs as lunch.
At 1100m (what time did you say?) we setup a camp for the night. We went to sleep at 8pm.
It was raining and wet throughout the night.

Day 3: Friday - Difficulty (8/10)

Woke up at 6.30am, still raining and wet. Had a pancake as breakfast.
We moved out at 9am.
Today is the hardest among the 5 days. We went thru bamboo forest, steep climb. Went thru stream after stream. Raining throughout the journey.
The plan is to reach 2900m and descending back to 2700 for 2nd base camp.
Radzi’s leg cramp twice and Kean kindly help to ease it.
Had a lunch break with bread and tuna. Still raining, and we used umbrella to cover us up.
Arrived at 2nd base camp at 4.15pm, camp for the night. Still raining and wet.
Had dinners in Radzi/Kevin tent. It was cold and was rain heavily throughout the night. Zzzzzz!!!!

Day 4: Saturday - Difficulty (7/10)

Had nice noodles as a breakfast
Move out at 915am and plan to reach peak
Again, we went through few bamboo forest, and as the level increase, different vegetation appeared. Still we have to cross stream after stream as before.
Unfortunately I left behind the flags with porters, however, they do have one flag at the top.
We arrived at peak – 11.20am. Spent 30 minutes relaxing and taking pictures. Fogs all around, can’t see much.
Move out back again from the top. Had a quick lunch break by riverside. Another noodles, it was good.! Muddy and wet all around.
Continue journey after 30mins, this time we going up and down again. Tough, and we used river stream as a path down. Need to be extra careful when walking down.
And…the view was wonderful for large parts of this leg
Arrived at the ‘hut’ after 6 hours of walking at 2200m. Rain had stopped quite a while and the weather was good.
Met up with 1 Germans couple and 2 guys from Singapore. They are on their way up.
We slept in the hut that night, much better than before and definitely dry.!!
Robert had a scary encounters with snake!
Zzzzzz!!!!

Day 5: Sunday - Difficulty (4/10)

Wokeup at 7am, and all of us had a heavy discussion about life while waiting for breakfast!!
Had a banana cakes as a breakfast in the hut, and it’s really nice.
Move out at approx 9am again, and walking down with short up. However the path was muddy and still, river stream one after another!
FINALLY arrived at the rest house and approx 11.20am - 1935m above sea level.
We had tea served by Trung. Nice!
Had a long break while waiting for the Jeep to fetch us to Sapa town.
After almost 1 hour, a Russian made jeep turn up and took us down to the town. The journey was Ok, with incomplete road and ongoing works.
However the view were spectacular, with few tourist riding a bike all around.
Arrived at Sapa town 1 hour later, what a relieved!
Checkin into room for hot shower and changes our dirty clothes.
Sent all STINKING clothes to laundry…
We went for a shopping around Sapa town and went to the wet markets as well.
Bought a few souvenir and of course, more photos! J
Had a farewell beer session with 2 guides, of course Radzi had a mango juice! ;). Filled in evaluation form and chatting etc.
Move out for a train trip at Lao Cai station at 6pm, and already dark…
Had a quick dinner at the restaurant near the station, (really quick one) as the train will move out at 8.15pm.
We made it to the train, and before that, bought torch lamp and card from the street seller.
Played a card game in the train.
Went to sleep hour after that. Zzzzzz!!!!

Day 6: Monday - Difficulty (nahh…!!)

Arrived quite early approx 4.15am in Hanoi and took a taxi to Sheraton Hotel.
Radzi left the camera in the train and managed to get it back! What a BIG relief!! Radzi took a bike ride to get back to hotel. It was good! J
Took a shower and rest.
Radzi and Kevin moveout to Airport by 11am. Bye – bye Hanoi!!
Robert and Anders stay on for the Seminar for a few days….

Wanna see all the pictures taken? Click here: Mount Fansipan

That’s all folks!