From Here To There: Hike to Ban Ho

It was a long, hot, all-day trip and a major slog to get to Ban Ho and then to the Silver waterfall. Ban (our Hmong guide with the same name) was amazing, and so excited an proud to show us her beautiful countryside. Ban Ho lies in a valley and is in an area with rushing rivers and many waterfalls of all sizes. The tribals have their own mini, family-sized hydroelectric generating sets. Family sized power generating! Even the most remote villages have power - enough for lights and their TV! It seems that they live incredibly simple but satisfying lives. Everyone we asked seemed to be very content. Vietnam has free WiFi inernet almost everywhere. I was really impressed. We passed fields of marijuana (cannabis sativa) that they use as hemp for making their unique linen-like fabric. Ban arranged an old soviet-era jeep for the first leg. The views along the way was simply spectacular. The hike was rough. My camera got so knocked-about, I lost my lens hood and skylight filter. How? Mara & Tia kept up somehow. Ban prepared lunch at our first stop where we met other tribals (Red Zao and Black Dao). The trip to the waterfalls we just a bonus.