Ba Vi National Park

We always mean to be an outdoorsy family, but in reality we only go hiking once a year and the last time we slept in the tent was in the old Orchard Park Gardens. That's why we're always surprised to be reminded of Titus' amazing ability to climb any number of steep steps in the name of hiking. He wasn't the least put off by spending two hours in the car each way getting to the park. He jumped out of the car, breathed in the bracing mountain air (it was seriously chilly), and bounded up the trail without a second thought. He might have gone up that mountain twice with the amount of times he kept coming back to encourage his slowpoke Mama. When I finally joined him at the top he sat down, sighed, and said, "Now this is the kind of view we like, right Mag?"

We could see the next mountain top, it's trees, and a bunch of misty clouds that our travel book refered to as atmospheric. Luckily, the kids didn't know we were supposed to be able to view Hanoi from the peak.

Maggie enjoyed the hike at a more relaxing and dreamy pace but was no less enthusiastic. She climbed, danced, climbed, and twirled up to the top. It was a relief to see a little color in her cheeks and sparkle in her eyes. The kids have both taken on a somewhat peaky appearance lately. It might have something to do with their polite refusal to eat anything set in front of them besides french fries and fruit.

Enzo was carried the whole way in Bryce's arms. How we forgot to bring the baby carrier on a designated hike I don't know. The downer for Enzo was him having a blowout and having to get entirely naked in a cold breeze. We told him that not many babies get to have their diapers changed on top of a mountain in front of a tiny temple. He remained, justifiably, sulky and fell asleep as soon as he got warm again.

It was a two hour drive each way that was fraught with its usual near miss collisions, honking, and dust. Our driver was a gregarious fellow that we've been with before who has the amazing ability to fit in everywhere we go. He speaks no English but it still seems like he translates for us because he obviously understands people. I might love him forever because he was really nice and found me a toilet (of sorts) when I had an inopportune bout of sore guts.