Sapa, Vietnam

[astroboy]

Sapa is a beautiful and romantic hill resort built by the French. At the height of 1,600m above sea level, the average temperature is 15-18C.

To get to Sapa, it is advisable to take the overnight 10-hour train from Hanoi. We went during the peak holiday season so couldn't get train tickets. In desperation, we hired a private 4WD and endured a gruelling 10-hour drive along bumpy roads. We needed a day to recover upon reaching Sapa.

[astroboy]

This was taken along the road about 6km from Sapa town. The long and winding road leading to Sapa town winds across beautiful valleys and rice terraces.

http://www.awarna.com/test_images/houses_0152.jpg

[astroboy]

We did some home-stays and spent nights at some of the villages. This is a typical village scene at the end of the day when they walk their buffaloes home after working in the ricefields.

http://www.awarna.com/test_images/going_home0123.jpg

[astroboy]

Riding the cows home at dusk. Some of the cows got a bit confused as I was standing in their way and they didn't know where to turn...

http://www.awarna.com/test_images/cows_0128.jpg

[astroboy]

While setting up our gear along the road to take some photos, we made friends with some local kids. I got this sweet little girl to pose for me against the warm glow of sunset. I just waved my hands saying: "Den...den.." which means "come, come" in Vietnamese and she obediently obliged...

http://www.awarna.com/test_images/girl_0165.jpg

[astroboy]

This girl was playing with her little brother when I caught her on camera...

http://www.awarna.com/test_images/girl_0118.jpg

[astroboy]

Some local kids playing in their backyard. The little girl was actually showing me some money. Thinks she wants more... I didn't give any money because I think it may spoil them. What we do is, we buy some snacks and pens to give to them. Or we buy some souvenirs from them.

http://www.awarna.com/test_images/kids_0114.jpg

[noordin]

Nice captures. But I think your camera settings was not correct. Perhaps EV +0.3 or even +0.7 for the landscapes. Perhaps you can make corrections with PS2?

[ckii96]

Nice shots but as uncle noordin has pointed out, some shots are over-exposed.

[Caveman]

very nice series, Astroboy. The landscapes and the people are gorgeous. It makes me want to go back there again. :D

[astroboy]

Exposure is correct. I was using the "velvia" technique mentioned elsewhere in this Forum to boost up the colours. Maybe I overdid it...hehe!


Nice captures. But I think your camera settings was not correct. Perhaps EV +0.3 or even +0.7 for the landscapes. Perhaps you can make corrections with PS2?

[qqmeng]

While setting up our gear along the road to take some photos, we made friends with some local kids. I got this sweet little girl to pose for me against the warm glow of sunset. I just waved my hands saying: "Den...den.." which means "come, come" in Vietnamese and she obediently obliged...

http://www.awarna.com/test_images/girl_0165.jpg

this s a beauty... she looks so pure....

[mohamadfazli]

velvia for landscape ok lar..

for human.. mebbe provia..

anyway.. sapa is a wonderful place...

[sweeann]

very nice series, Astroboy. The landscapes and the people are gorgeous. It makes me want to go back there again. :D

When you want to go again? I also want to go lar... my last trip couldn't go due to weather... must go again.....

[sweeann]

http://www.awarna.com/test_images/going_home0123.jpg

http://www.awarna.com/test_images/cows_0128.jpg

Local farmer kids riding on buffalo sure is a great subject -- IMHO, should shoot them individually instead of a whole group, now looks a bit messy, but I guess it depends on luck too, some times we just can't ask too much, unless we pay the kids and shoot saloon.... :D

[astroboy]

Agree with u. We just arrived at the village, waiting for some of the guys to shower so went for a short walk to recce, turned around and saw a herd of ppl coming at us. So fired a few shots and then all gone as suddenly as they appeared.

On hindsight, we were moving around from one village to another too fast (part of the itinerary planned by the tour guide). Should just stay put and shoot.

Anyway, we "sacked" the tour guide on the last day. She just didn't know what we wanted.




Local farmer kids riding on buffalo sure is a great subject -- IMHO, should shoot them individually instead of a whole group, now looks a bit messy, but I guess it depends on luck too, some times we just can't ask too much, unless we pay the kids and shoot saloon.... :D

[astroboy]

This pix of the young Hmong girls was taken during my earlier trip to Sapa and posted at other Forums so u may have seen it before.

I post it here again as it's my all-time favourite. The photo always make me smile and want to go back again.

The 3 young ladies were casually walking around the food market in Sapa town (opposite the old Church) when we saw them.

http://www.awarna.com/test_images/hmong_girls_39.jpg

[astroboy]

Another pix from previous Sapa trip. These kids were "abandoned" on the roadside while their parents presumably go off to work in the fields. We had a problem communicating with the kids as they do not seem to understand Vietnamese. A lot of the kids do not go to school and some only understand their own Hmong dialects.

The little girl (yes, we checked, it's a girl) behind started crying as she's not used to seeing strangers taking her pix while the older brother just sat there looking cool even after we gave them some sweets.

Reminds me of the Cantonese phrase: "thin sang, thin yeong" (literally "heaven gives birth, heaven provides").

http://www.awarna.com/test_images/two_kids_160.jpg

[astroboy]

This girl is from the Black Hmong tribe. Notice her hands are black probably from handling the black dye used for their clothes.

http://www.awarna.com/test_images/sapa_gal_128.jpg

[astroboy]

Sapa landscape.

http://www.awarna.com/test_images/sapa_landscape_116.jpg

[qqmeng]

This pix of the young Hmong girls was taken during my earlier trip to Sapa and posted at other Forums so u may have seen it before.

I post it here again as it's my all-time favourite. The photo always make me smile and want to go back again.

The 3 young ladies were casually walking around the food market in Sapa town (opposite the old Church) when we saw them.

http://www.awarna.com/test_images/hmong_girls_39.jpg

this is beautiful :0

[astroboy]

A woman from the Red Dsao tribe with her trademark umbrella. All of them carry one.

http://www.awarna.com/test_images/sapa_woman_143.jpg

[sweeann]

Agree with u. We just arrived at the village, waiting for some of the guys to shower so went for a short walk to recce, turned around and saw a herd of ppl coming at us. So fired a few shots and then all gone as suddenly as they appeared.

On hindsight, we were moving around from one village to another too fast (part of the itinerary planned by the tour guide). Should just stay put and shoot.

Anyway, we "sacked" the tour guide on the last day. She just didn't know what we wanted.

Aiseh.... I thought you pro already, still need tour guide meh? Should have "sacked" her on the first day ler... then roam around yourself lar like we did in Hoi-An..... :D

[astroboy]

The guide led us to believe that foreigners are not allowed to roam around the villages without an official guide and proper clearance. Must register with the village head... blah...blah... blah. I am beginning to think that's not entirely true.

Anyway this is a good recce trip. When I go again, I will know what to do. :)


Aiseh.... I thought you pro already, still need tour guide meh? Should have "sacked" her on the first day ler... then roam around yourself lar like we did in Hoi-An..... :D