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Published: October 29th 2013
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So we booked a boat trip at Halong Bay for 2 nights and 3 days. Kerry found us a really nice company to book with called Indochina Sails and I can definitely say it was worth every penny and would definitely recommend it to anyone coming to Vietnam.
We got picked up about 8am on Saturday morning and began the journey to Halong bay. It's about a 3 hour bus ride from Hanoi, and when I say about 3 hours I mean it, it's definitely not anything less! What we have found is that even though in the middle of Hanoi it's absolute madness with all the mopeds, once your on the highway there's no rush to get anywhere out here! The cars are driving as if they are on a tiny road having to be extra careful! So, yes it definitely took about 3 and half hours including the 20 minute pit stop! The journey wasn't the most enjoyable either, we were sat at the back if the bus which wasn't the best decision as the roads aren't the best here and we felt every hole and stone we went over!! We were both happy to see the bus
stop and finally arrive for us to board the boat!!
We had to get a little boat to our main boat and once on board our guide Hoang gave us our itinerary for the weekend, we then got to go and sort our stuff out in our cabin and then have lunch. Now this wasn't just a meal it was about an 8 course meal!!! I've never seen so much food brought out to me, plate after plate after plate it was like some kind of banquet!! And it was all really good! I couldn't eat it all but both of us made sure we tasted every course, the chicken and mango sauce was definitely a favourite! While we were eating we sailed to our first destination Ti Top mountain which had 524 steps, we walked up it and it was hard work, but the view was breath taking. I must sound so repetitive saying view after view was amazing but each one is just, sometimes, better, than the one before! After our mini trek we chilled on the beach and then got back in the boat to our second destination, this fishing village. This was a real shock
and eye opener for the both of us. People, families, young children and dogs living on huts on the water. No land around for miles, real simple living which I think made us both feel rather humble. Brad and I and another guy Ryan who was on the trip got kayaks and went round the village and the rest of the group went round on little boats by people that loved there. It was great to be able to go around ourselves, hard work, but great. We got to stop and look where we wanted and take as many pictures as we wanted. One thing we found strange was the amount of pet dogs they had! Where was there for them to go?! Dogs living on water....doesn't quite sound right does it!? We were out on the kayaks for quite a while waiting for the rest of the group and young kids in boats came up to us trying to sell shells (with the concept of hearing sea, something I know me and Like used to do when younger,well not the selling part!) they loved the interaction with us as I guess they don't know what our life would be
like, what any other life would be like. The hardest part was seeing a young mother and her 3 year old baby on a boat selling food and drink, this lady in particular tugged on our heart strings and Brad gave her the equivalent of about £3 when we left which made her eyes light up. Definitely makes you realise what kind of life we are lucky to lead. That was the last stop of day one and we got to freshen up for dinner, not that I felt like eating much after the huge lunch!!!
We got talking to a couple Hanisha and MK during the day as the 4 of us were the only people on the boat doing 2 nights, everyone else were only doing one, so at dinner we all sat together. They are both from India but live in Singapore and we hit it off with them straight away. I think we were the youngest on the boat so were drawn to each other and we had a great evening with them we had a couple of cocktails and then after dinner went up on the top deck and they kindly shared a bottle
of red wine with us that they had brought with them. We felt like naughty school children being a bit too noisy whilst everyone else went to bed! It was such a funny night though, sharing stories and talking about anything and everything. One of the funniest being me commenting on another boat saying 'they are right at it over there'. With Hanisha thinking I said there's a RAT over there so she's screamed and I've jumped on my chair!!! It was pretty funny when we realised what both had actually said, but I know we were both glad we got it wrong too haha!! We also got told all about their cat Rafael who even I can admit sounds like a dude!! He even got an invite to their wedding, something that never usually happens!! After a good few hours of laughter and chatting we headed to bed as we had to be up by 7.45 the next morning for day 2, a day out on another boat visiting a surprise cave and pearl farm....which I'll write about on my next entry!!
Lots of love B&K xxxxxx
Ps we are missing you all back home!! Xxx
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Travis Johnson
How much was the boat trip?