Central Highlands, Vietnam, 13 April 2008

It was a 5 hour drive up into the highlands but it wasn't as bumpy as the Mekong. We dropped our big packs at a hotel in Buon Me Thuot and only had our small backpacks in preparation for our trek. Another couple hours drive on to our homestay and a small walk. I was expecting a big walk on the first day but it was only a little stroll really. Was nice seeing all the rice paddies though and I snapped my favourite shot of the trip, a burning field at sunset. It turned out amazing.

Our homestay was with the minority Ede tribe who live in longhouses on stilts. The longhouses are very similar to a sleeping room on a marae so I found it a lot more comfortable than the first home stay. There were animals everywhere - pigs, chickens, cows, buffalos, dogs, ducks, roosters we had our first very basic "happy house" (Giang - our guide's term - for toilet). It was a squat toilet in a bamboo shed with a flush bucket. No shower.

When we got there the men were busy preparing the meat for dinner. They had killed a dog and were chopping up the meat. Thankfully we missed the killing part but the head was in the fire and they were stretching out the intestines (which they eat). I was very happy to find out we wouldn't be sampling dog that night.

This tribe is matriarchal so the women rule the village and they choose who they want to marry etc. I loved sleeping in the long house with the group, we had a lot of fun and plenty of laughs!