Halong Bay/Sapa

I have learnt that if you have any desire to do anything on a day, you should not catch a sleeper train the night before.
We left Hanoi last night, and are now in Sapa, and after a few outings today, we now have mustered the energy to only sit in our room and watch National Geographic and then write a blog. We are exhausted, but that has not dimished our awe at the beauty of Sapa. I have always felt an affinity for mountains; I have no idea why, but I have always felt at home in the mountains, and Sapa has more than provided.
It is at this time on a trip, after three weeks, when one's travel tenacity is tested. The surrealism of travel has become the reality, and since the surrealism ahs worn off, it is lucky that I love the reality. We met two Australians on our Halong Bay tour (which I will come to), and after a few Tiger beers and long island ice teas, one of them told me that what we were doing, this eight month galavant, was "bloody stoic mate". I would never have ahd the temerity to consider what we are doing in suh self agrandising words, but the magnitude of this trip is slowly dawning on me. I always try and think of what I was doing eight months ago, and everytime I come back to the conclusion that it is an extraordinarily long time to be away from home, especially when there are so many people I miss at home, none more so than Olivia. It is incomprehensibly painful to go from a relationship that means the world to you, to traveling around the world without the person you love the most, but I must remain positive, and know unequivocally that when I get home, things will be the same and she will still feel the same, regardless of how much I may miss her.
I have gained a renewed faith in the restorative powers of nature. Halong Bay was one of, if not the, most beautiful places I have ever seen, and in every sense of the word, it was unbelievable. It acted as the best possible distraction for Tom, and I saw his demeanour change completely. The beauty of a place is not to be found in the built environment so much as in the natural environment. It exerts a profound purity. Civilisations may last centuries, however landscapes of the magnitude of Halong Bay are so ancient it does not bear comprehension, and its beauty is infinite, (I say that with baited breath, hoping that mass tourism doesn't prove me wrong).
I have also learnt that people are intrinsically altruistic, and the generosity of Tom's friend Twan has verified this to me. He has been so selfless with his time and resources that, as with Vincent and Ann, we are both forever indebted to him. He even bought Tom a dinner which he will not forget quickly and which went against everyone of my vegan ethics to be around, but for details on that, you will have to go to http://tomthetripper.blogspot.com/.
Tomorrow we are going for a six hour hike, followed by another sleeper train ride back to Hanoi for one last day in Vietnam before flying to Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Friday. Vietnam has been such a quick stop, but already I feel a connection to the people and places that I will know will draw me back soon.
Such is the life of a backpacker, in these three weeks we traveled in more sorts of transport than I would in a year at home. Bicycle, car, motorbike, ferry, kayak, junk, bullet train, sleeper train and bus, but considering where it has brought me, I am euphoric. Out the window, I have a view of this beautiful mountain range in Northwest Vietnam, home to Fansipan; the highest mountain in Indochina. Thick billows of clouds are omnipresent, but they only add to the mysticism of this beautifully hypnotic landscape.
I hope in earnest that Cambodia and Laos are even comparably enjoyable to our travels so far. Tomorrow is day 24, which means we are half way through our Asian stint, thus we are now Europe bound, however, I am by no means counting down the days, more so dreading the time when I will go from being reasonably financially stable to being another lowly backpacker.
As I have said, there are things still tying me to home, and I miss them (her) everyday, however, I must reconcile myself with the fact that I am having the trip of my life, unfortunately not with her, but one day we will. The pains of missing that badly do not go away, but they become habitual and that makes them semi-bearable.
I cannot wait to see this antiquated area tomorrow, and experience the real Vietnam, out of the city and off the tourist trail, however, that will have to wait until after a long, relieving rest.
Keep checking back for more of me whinging about missing my girlfriend and bragging about how fun traveling is.
David.