We arrived at the village of the Black Hmong people, oblivious to what lay ahead of us. We were instantly approached by the locals selling their crafts, something which continued throughout our trek through the muddy village. Our first obstacle was a descending slope, wet and slippery from recent rainfall. It soon became apparent that the sticks some of the locals were selling would be needed! The trek down the slopes was difficult, an at times sure footing became a major obstacle. The view, however, was breathtaking and quite possibly worth the muddiness. We trudged on for about two hours, in which several people lost their balance and collided with the squelching dirt. The local people were very friendly, and willing to practice their English skills on us. Many locals helped members of our group make their way through the obstacles posed by the trail. While the experience was at times frustrating and uncomfortable, it was very rewarding.
