announcement 30/05/2012

           Sarcophagus is on at a new location until June 17, 2012.

              You can visit him at "Kunstpunt Caré" in Hasselt. On Friday, June 1, drinks
              will be served.

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                  Sapa area, meeting some water buffaloes.

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      Together with sketchbook 004 they make up a set of Four.

Leisure & pleasure: playing in the streets.

 

Locals smoke different kind of pipes, some of them look very funny. And the  Tien Len  card game played on the streets and in the local beer corners. Here are the game rules.

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Leisure & pleasure: Tram Thon Pass.

       Sapa to Tram Thon and back.

Troubles with the motorcycles are quite common in Vietnam don't let them stop you touring the Sapa area. The best moment is when the rice fields are luscious green. Cat-Cat village is more like a park with concrete paths and the local tourist shops selling clothes and local handicrafts. If you are into that have a look the setting is beautiful. The weather is unpredictable most mornings you wake up

in the clouds...nice....but moist...

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         Food stall at Sapa market!

Leisure and pleasure: Sapa area.

Sapa is a nice place to spent a few days, get out on a motorcycle or do some hiking. They serve some decent food, especially the sizzling hot-plate dishes. On the market you can find a wide variety of soups (pho) and local dishes. If you like a challenge that's where you want to eat. Remember, mainly morning till early afternoon.

Also down from the market on the left there is the local disco for some late night fun and cheap beer. The Tau-bar is easy to find.

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         Tram Thon pass near Sappa, Northern Vietnam.

          The Chinese motorcycle that was rented lost second gear after a few miles.
          Fourth gear went about half way. It turned out to be a fun day two people on
          a small motorcycle. First gear, forcing it into third and then full throttle
          screaming over another mountain .....

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         Inspired by " The Disasters of war", F. Goya.

        The originals!

Leisure & pleasure: The market

Bac Ha it's a small town where you can visit the Can Cau Market, or less visited markets in the surrounding villages. For the markets around Bac Ha you should check with the locals to find out the right place and day on which they are held. Bac Ha is a vegetable as well, Known as Taro or Elephants Ear.  I had some great Taro dishes in Thailand & Vietnam.

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          Sometimes one might need one, the infamous outhouse. Have to admit it's in
          a nice setting. Near Sapa Northern Vietnam.

          The biomass seems to do wonders for the pine trees in the background

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         This heather we picked up at the Taichilek border crossing,
         Myanmar 2004. For the grand total of 25 Bath, 6o Eurocents.

         It is heaven send, make a cup of coffee or tea or just boil some water for your
         cup noodles. Once they used it in northern Laos to heat a bucket of water
         (about 30 l.). we hung it in the middle of the bucket and went out for dinner.
         A nice warm shower awaiting in their room on return, could not think of a more
         satisfying homecoming when temperatures are barely reaching five degrees
         Celsius. Wonderful after a week of ice-cold mountain water showers.

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        November 2006, bus trip in the Lao Cai Province.

Leisure & pleasure: Be the Joker!

 

You can be anything you like, but choose wisely. The Vietnamese card game "tien len" is played without the Joker though.