I say cheerio to Nick and the biker girls - Louise & Sioban. They make a good team and their mutual enthusiasm keeps them all going through the harder parts I imagine. I go with Sam to an old book shop where they have cheekily printed off ebooks. The family who run the shop are eating their lunch on the floor but still happy to see a few customers. We go to the Hill Station restaurant to upload videos and chat about life. Always good company. A great place to just hang out with some mellow tunes on in the background. Back at the hostel I phone mum and dad. Whilst wish mum a happy birthday I give them a tour of the hostel on my Ipad. Technology can be a wonderful thing at times. I say goodbye to Watsu who is off on his travels. With someone else leaving it hits home just how many people have come into my life at this hostel. As mentioned, it's impossible to note every part of this experiance in Sapa, but I will remember everyone for their open and friendly natures. Ally has been looking forward to her friends from Hanoi turning up today. She had been wanting to organise some goat as a special treat, but this was trumped by Sam declaring that he wanted to kill a chicken. It was certainly out of the blue, but he seems quite serious about it. The chicken is being ordered in to Huang's restaurant just down from Mama's. Huang is another member of the staff at Mountain View. He helps out with the family deliveries first thing in the morning before working at the hostel. A hard working fellow who ends with rosy cheeks and heartwarming smile after only a few drinks. The Vietnamese are not big drinkers but they give it a go and know how to have a good time. Whilst waiting for the meal, I sit and get to know Ally's pals. A dutch lad called Eggy and his Vietmanese girlfriend Lien, as well as Ally's friend Tang. We sit in the hostel courtyard eating the sweetest Almonds I've ever tasted. Still in their shells and delicious (LT) A select group have been invited to this meal down at Huang's restaurant. It's very cloak and dagger and we slip off so as not to alert everyone back at the hostel. The restaurant has the tables joined together in one long line and I see Sam at the back where the ceremony is about to begin. Sam holds the chicken and even with all the guidance in the world it's not an easy task to do. He kills the chicken admirably with no fuss. I guess he wasn't joking after all. The table is set with 2 large pots. We are going to have the local variety of pho bo. Vegetables are cut up and a broth already made. The blood of the chicken is poured in and the cut up chicken including the head and feet thrown in for good measure. Nothing is wasted. The rice wine is flowing and everyone is in good spirits. The staff from the Mountain view are there including Huang, Sunshine and Tuc, as well as Ally and Justin. With every rice wine the Vietnamese for cheers is chanted "Mot, Hai, Ba, Yo" (1,2,3, Yo!) several times before slugging the drink. The special rice wine is out which raises spirits further. The food is delicious and I am given a boiled chicken foot. Not the most appetising part I've eaten and a lot of chewing to pull the fatty gristle off. It gets a few laughs and cheers from the locals. Sam passes what I presume is a chicken kidney. After chewing into the soft lump, he asks me "How are you enjoying the chicken ball?". A lot of laughter is had over that one, but it didn't actually taste that bad. The wasabi brings a tear to my eye. Never tasted anything like. I haven't laughed this much in ages. The rain is in full force when we leave. Water flowing down the steps. We grab any umbrellas or diy umbrellas from cardboard we can and make a dash for it. Through the rain we reach a large Karaoke bar. A private booth is organised, decked out in neon lights. The drinks are flowing but still takes me a few before I join in. Wonderwall is belted out by all arm in arm and an amazing end to the night and my time in Sapa. We all head back to the hostel and slump down on the rugs in the corner. Everyone is a little worse for wear with hangovers on the cards. It doesn't matter as it was the icing on the cake to my Sapa adventure.