Xín Mần to Bắc Hà
The seventh in the   Xín Mần Area   Collection

Complex of clouds with hills rising out of them. These photographs were taken from different positions and so do not join up, but maybe the patchwork helps the sense of the dispersed cloud in the valleys near the border between Hà Giang and Lào Cai Provinces This page has photographs from along the road that leads from Xín Mần to Bắc Hà and its famous market. So concludes the collection of photographs from around Xín Mần as we pass to the adjacent province of Lào Cai, from where some pages have already appeared. The next page returns to the south-west of Scotland. Man standing beside Jeep, car behind, mud road. Visitors get out to take photos of the misty... Woman in plastic mac taking photo of two people, one of whom is taking photo. ...and wet, landscape Jeep behind two motorbikes going towards mist. And then follow two local motorcyclists into the mist Conical hill with house at bottom on neaer side, mountains beyond. A house nestles in this dell, finding protection in a mountainous landscape Terracing with houses along top ridge. A house enjoys panoramic views, which includes the marks on the far hillside seen below... High vertical hillside with streaks of falling earth down below road. ...these can be seen to be formed by a road zig-zagging up the apparently vertical mountainside Terraced rounded hill with hut at centre. And, as its northern Vietnam, a necessary shot of terraces, with their shelter hut at the centre Houses with fields on one side and woods on the other. Down from the higher hills, groups of farm houses appear House with fields and some woods providing shelter. While still having a great outlook... Soil turned over with cabbage like vegetables, vertical trees. ...once down into the valleys vegetables like these... Bed of yellow flowering vegetables, house, terraces and woods beyond. ...and these, near the house shown above, can be grown Man leading ox, looking out over terracing and mountains beyond. A passing farmer, leading his bull, stops for us... Man standing on edge of slope with hands behind his back. ...and poses a little self-consciously Woman holding hand of child walking behind two ox and dog. A woman and child, seemingly being led by their cows and dog Hmong woman standing with crash helmet over head scarf, similar sitting on kerb next to woman in headscarf. Motorbikes for sale in background. Crash helmets and head gear mix in this shot from Bắc Hà Single story house entrance with bonsai, fence and plastic dog. Bonsai and plastic dog at town house Five story hotel with balconies for each of two rooms on each floor, big signs on walls. The Cong Fu, that we have patronised in Bắc Hà , is familiar in this shape, characteristic of many provincial hotels Two story restaurant in excavation from hillside with trees above. This roadside restaurant, near Bắc Hà, offers a typical range of foods... Woman walking with infant looking at stoney ground. A photo to take you to Bắc Hà Market Sign in front of restaurant advertising food. ...The road sign above freely translated: The name of the owner, two types of noodle (Bún and Phở) and rice (cơm) as the centre of the main course. Good standard food (Bình Dân); can be taken out (cơm học); affordable meals (cơm suất); draught beer (bia hơi); other beverages (Nước Giải Khát) Table with gas cylinder under and gas burners, woks and pots on top. The cooking is done in front of customers, and is fast, most dishes only taking a few minutes to concoct from the ingredients previously prepared; the high temperatures (8/10 Kilowatts) are enabled by the portable gas burners - cylinders under the table Man and woman behind table with cooking utensils on top, many vegetables and pots on the ground, and other general clutter. Your meal laid bare in the restaurant shown just above. Customers are reassured that the food is correctly prepared by being able to watch what is happening. Due to Vietnam's unhealthy climate food has to be fresh, it is often brought in from the market and unceremoniously dumped (as above right under table) ready for preparation, at a quieter time

Trailers... Church by houses and field. The next Picture Posting page is to take you to the eastern area of Dumfriesshire. Road running through avenue of beech trees. The next page of the Ruminations Section is to be headed 'Beech Avenue'.
Or go to the contents of the Ruminations Section.

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Saturday 27 June 2026 Murphy on duty ...guide to this site


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