T: A short bio about yourself? 3-4 lines that best describe you, what you do for a living and so…
S: My name is Sharifuddin Bin Ahmad Muhid a.k.a Sharifuddin Lennon in Facebook and Instagram. I’m in my late twenties and I love travelling, culture, and nature. I just started travelling so I haven’t been anywhere yet but it’s definitely on my list. Currently, I’m working as a technician and hope to be a full-time traveller soon.
T: What’s your favourite travel destination and why?
S: Ta Xua. I will never forget the 4°C cold morning on a beautiful mountain. The sun rose and there’s floating cloud around me. Heaven never felt so close! Ta Xua is a range of mountains in Bac Yen District of Son La Province, located in the north of Vietnam and around 240 km from Hanoi. It forms a natural border between the two provinces Yen Bai and Son La. The highest mountain of Ta Xua is ranked the 10th highest mountain top in Vietnam, at the height of 2865 m. Its three main mountain tops form a line which looks like the rough back of a dinosaur. Hence the place is also called “dinosaur backbone”. Ta Xua is mostly known for a special phenomenon around its mountains: the formation of thick clouds, makes me feel like I’m standing right in Heaven.
T: Now that you’ve been there yourself , when you think of it what’s the first image that comes into your head?
S: Dinosaur backbone, of course. Haha!
T: What was the hardest or most frustrating part of the trip?
S: I think the hardest part was probably when I had to sleep in the grocery store after I found that I’m lost somewhere in Son La and I can’t find any tour guide or halal food.
T: What did you learn about yourself during the trip?
S: I never knew that I can survive all the ‘lost in the middle of nowhere’, scammers, no place to sleep, chased by dogs a few times… Hahaha.