Sa Pa Terraces, Northern Vietnam, charcoal on paper, 31 x 24 cm.
Within the Hoàng Liên Son Mountains of north-western Vietnam lies the town of Sa Pa – at an elevation of 1,500 metres. Here Hmong, Tay and Dao hill tribes cultivate rice on the steep slopes. While on the return leg of a long and most enjoyable day trek, our Black Hmong guide recommended that my wife Ruth partake in a traditional hot tub bath within one of the small villages. While Ruth luxuriated in a hot tub, I spent a delightful hour sketching this wonderful mountain scene.
