We met the Hmong girls at around 750am after getting some breakfast. Chi commented that we can't go to their house in our slippers because the paths are quite muddy. Instead she got us 2 pairs of China-made rubber slippers and we set off in the direction of Cat Cat village, with Lang (14) her cousin, at 9am. Along the way, Chi briefed us that we will be passing through 4 villages, namely Cat Cat, Yieldtiful (may be a spelling error), Lao Chai (where Chi is staying) and a red Dzao village. Tracks at Cat Cat were ok because they were frequented by tourists but it got worse soon. Chi, sensing the difficulty that the 2 urban bums were facing, got us 2 bamboo poles. "Sometimes the Vietnamese charge tourists for these bamboo poles", she said.

Across bridges, above rivers and around mountains, we talked about various things like friends would do. We were having fun and Lang was always entertaining us with her Peter Pan "flying" skills. We stopped to look at plants and scenery, posing for photos, teaching them English terms for certain plants or fruits (e.g. yam, pumpkin). We got ourselves dirty with mud as a result but there was always a stream nearby to wash off the dirt. After 2hrs, fatigue starts to set in (at least for the 2 urban bums) and it seems like we were getting nowhere. Chi told us we would need 2 more hours(!) before we reach her house. That's a hell lot of walking to do! And my newly formed blisters had started to bleed (yes, it reminded me that I'm a urban bum). She had taken the long route because she thought we wanted to trek and explored the country side, like normal Farangs do!!! We almost fainted.

The slopes were getting steep and we have to walk across the terrace padi fields. Looking back now, it was enriching for the mind, since we don't get these kind of opportunites. The blisters were hurting like hell (Chi kept apologising) and thus I went barefooted and it was more comfortable. I kept my finger crossed on getting any soil viral diseases.

Finally, we reached Lao Chai at 130pm when Chi pointed that the padi fields around this area were hers. We got into a shady hut and saw her grandmother picking corn for the pigs. Thank god we finally reached! We were so tired till we forgot all about lunch. And guess what, Chi has bought some instant noodles and cabbage (from Sapa) as lunch! We even get to eat the rice they had planted themselves. We didnt waste a single morsel of the rice.

After lunch, we took a look around her house and tried out at the cloth weaving machine. We left her house at 5pm, walked to a nearby red Dzao village (40mins) and took a motorbike ride back to Sapa, 4 person in 2 motorbikes (50kdong)! The scenery was perfect when we returned.