Advertisement
Published: July 28th 2012
Edit Blog Post
Day 7
Today the breakfast just didn't seem to be enough! Bread, bread, and more bread! I felt like that about the eggs previously, now, I would really enjoy a scrambled egg.Today is a free day. We have made a group decision to hire bikes and go to Hang Mua, otherwise known as the dancing cave.
We hired bikes for journey. It does cause a stir when a group go 17 white skinned Europeans go cycling by. The bike ride was good fun, not too hard and the weather was not too hot.
We arrived at the foot of the cave. OMG! It is huge. It is very impressive with a small grove of trees, but the main attraction is the pagoda at the top. It is a simple alter to Quan Am who is the Godess of mercy.
It has 500 steps, and we felt every single one of them! Nadia and I were the last to the top, but our aim was to do it leisurely, and we did! The hardest part was the height of some of the treads, they were like double steps! There was not a single person, regardless of age, race, culture
or size at the top, that was not red faced, sweating like mad and tired out! the scenes were amazing from the top.
Coming down the steps was just as horrendous as it was going up! It was so steep, but we all made it in one piece. Ben won himself two awards through the course of this morning.
1. Most stupid person - for attempting to run up the steps!
2. Most chivalrous - for taking time to ensure Hannah's safety.
Well done Ben, your good deed outweighs your stupid one!
We got back for lunchtime, all the usual; much needed shower, change of clothes and a bit of a rest. We went out to have lunch at a different venue for a change. A welcome change, I must say! A really nice meal was had by all. It took a while to freshly cook for 17 people, but it certainly worth the wait!
The group split into 3 for the afternoon. One group cycled 7k to Ninh Binh, and then another 7k back. The main reason for this trip seemed to be to access an ATM. There are none in the village
we are staying in. The second group which was Rachel, Britty, Roisin, Nadia and I took ourselves off for a bike ride to find a particularly nice spot on Tam Coc river that we had spotted from the boat yesterday. It was a 'leisurely' ride, the temperature was slightly cooler, therefore a pleasant ride. We even managed to find the place we set out for. The third group hung around and relaxed at the hotel. Jessie, Will and Ben did venture out on their bikes and caught up with us as we were just getting ready to leave Tam Coc beauty spot.
After such a tiring day, I guess it will be a slightly later meal, then definitely an early night in bed for me. Maybe with a film, I think ?
More eating, more good food and good company. The roads are quiet here on a night. The village square is always in total darkness as there are no street lights, but tonight there is a panoramic light show in the sky due to the constant flickering of lightening which is more recently being followed by the thunder. Very every!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.033s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 11; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0143s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Donna
non-member comment
Update
Ola Lesley Looking good ,all that fresh air, healthy food and cycling suiting you. How are you coping with sitting on the little stools all the time, killer for the knees.Everyone so small, this is were the lady chased me around the market with a pair of the enormous trousers you have ever seen shouting even fit you laideee!!! Looks to be a great crowd that you are with and it sounds like you are having a fabulous time and you seem to have been away ages. Enjoying the blog. Keep safe Love D&M xxxx P S The last title should read David Bailey. x