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photographie-irie > Flower Hmong Woman Selling Purses, Hats, Coc Ly, Vietnam      On another day trip motorbike ride from Sapa, the Tuesday market in Coc Ly is not so islolated as Muong Houm, but attracts a vibrant gathering of ethnic minorities selling their wares. This wonderful Flower Hmong lady smiled me into buying purse after purse as gifts I did not need. Carrying her store around her neck and on her head, getting away was not an option. She almost sold me a hat, but there's only so much room on a bike. Now I wish I bought three.
photographie-irie > Sugar Cane Juice, Muong Houm, Vietnam After a long day on the bike over rocky roads eating lots of dust, followed by a serious market workout, a big glass of sugar cane juice hit the spot. The market area appears mostly deserted now in the afternoon, as this young guy shows how to extract juice fresh from the cane for my glass.
photographie-irie > Country Laundry, Muong Houm, Vietnam           After being washed in the river and hung to dry around the house, colorful clothing decorates not only the female ethnic minority, but the entire household. Building construction again is bamboo and corrugated.
photographie-irie > Bridge Beyond Muong Houm, Muong Houm, Vietnam      Heading out beyond Muong Houm you get the feeling you are really heading into the mountain wilderness. The skyline gets more rugged, mountains higher and further isloated from serious civilzation. At various points in history, rebelious factions fighting for greater autonomy hid very effectively in those rugged mountains beyond.
photographie-irie > Rice Paddy Home, Muong Houm, Vietnam     The ubiquitous Vietnamese flag shows where another mountain village climbs up the high valley just above and to the right of it a bit, in the middle of the V leading deeper into big mountains. This big spread in front with flag flying sits nicely along a river in bottom land, but minority ethnic villages extend well into the mountains in the rear, achieving even more bucolic isolation than this already distant spot.
photographie-irie > Dao Socialiizing at the Market, Muong Houm, Vietnam The napping woman is the richest. Her larger amounts of bulky silver baubles and coins, and that necklace of bulky silver rectangles demonstrates her superior wealth in the mix. Market day is big time for meeting and spending time with friends.
photographie-irie > Red Dao Grocery Shopping, Muong Houm, Vietnam These wealthy ladies are choosing some fresh provisions for the kitchen. The grocery store just behind and to the left has a more Vietnamese flavor.
photographie-irie > Isolated Village, Road to Muong Houm, Vietnam When villages happened along the way on our rides in the countryside, they would most often be in beautiful settings with a hidden, "nestled in the landscape" feel. Our paths would most often take us near villages, but not through them, as if they were still seeking a greater degree of privacy than simply afforded by being so far removed from Vietnamese civilization.
photographie-irie > Local Home, Road to Muong Houm, Vietnam In route on bumpy, dusty roads, occasional homes would appear where people would always stop and look as we passed by. Initial inquiring looks generally turned to gawking stares or broad smiles with attendent "thumbs up" as they checked out the friendly alien presence. Meeting other bikes along the way was especially entertaining as shocked locals riders' heads turned in situations on roads where that was probably not a good idea.
Flower Hmong Woman Selling Purses, Hats, Coc Ly, Vietnam     

On another day trip motorbike ride from Sapa, the Tuesday market in Coc Ly is not so islolated as Muong Houm, but attracts a vibrant gathering of ethnic minorities selling their wares. This wonderful Flower Hmong lady smiled me into buying purse after purse as gifts I did not need. Carrying her store around her neck and on her head, getting away was not an option. She almost sold me a hat, but there's only so much room on a bike. Now I wish I bought three.
photographie-irie > Flower Hmong Woman Selling Purses, Hats, Coc Ly, Vietnam      On another day trip motorbike ride from Sapa, the Tuesday market in Coc Ly is not so islolated as Muong Houm, but attracts a vibrant gathering of ethnic minorities selling their wares. This wonderful Flower Hmong lady smiled me into buying purse after purse as gifts I did not need. Carrying her store around her neck and on her head, getting away was not an option. She almost sold me a hat, but there's only so much room on a bike. Now I wish I bought three.
Flower Hmong Woman Selling Purses, Hats, Coc Ly, Vietnam     

On another day trip motorbike ride from Sapa, the Tuesday market in Coc Ly is not so islolated as Muong Houm, but attracts a vibrant gathering of ethnic minorities selling their wares. This wonderful Flower Hmong lady smiled me into buying purse after purse as gifts I did not need. Carrying her store around her neck and on her head, getting away was not an option. She almost sold me a hat, but there's only so much room on a bike. Now I wish I bought three.
See photo in original gallery.
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