halong bay 20th February2009

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Rock formations, Boat traffic and activities found on my 4 hour trip around Halong Bay.

The Ha long Archipelago is one of the worlds natural wonders with thousand jagged, limestone islands - A bay with more than 3,000 islands which time, wind,and waves have sculpted into fantastic shapes. The best way to explore and appreciate this magical sight is by boat between these Karst cliffs which loom like fairy tale castles with rocky spires and hidden caves.

Ha Long means "where the dragon descends into the sea" Ha long bay will soothe your soul and rekindle your belief in magic.

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Photos

NOT THE BEST PLACE TO FISH
ALTHOUGH THIS MAY LOOK A VERY BEAUTIFUL SIGHT. IT DOES LOOK A LITTLE DANGEROUS TO BE FISHING NEAR THIS ROCK FORMATION.
CAMERA NIKON D 50
SHUTTER SPEED1/1000
F-STOP 5.3

ROCKY GATEWAY
A NATURALLY FORMED ARCH WHICH RESEMBLES A GATEWAY UNDER WHICH TINY FISHING BOATS CAN PASS IF NECCESARY.
CAMERA: NIKON D-50
SHUTTER SPEED 1/1000
F-STOP 4.5

SAFE PASSAGE
THE CHINESE JUNK BOAT PASSING BY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FORMATION.NOTICE THE LEVEL AT WHICH THE WATER RISES DURING HIGH TIDE.
CAMERA: NIKON D-50
SHUTTER SPEED 1/1000
F-STOP 4.2

THE MOUTH
LOOKS VERY DECEPTIVE THIS OPENING. IT COULD BE MISTAKEN FOR AN ENTRANCE BUT IT IS TOO SHALLOW AND ROCKY FOR A CHINESE JUNK BOAT TO PASS. NOITCE THE TOWERS WITH WARNING SIGNS AND LIGHTS AT NIGHT
CAMERA NIKON D-50
SHUTTER SPEED 1/1000
F-STOP 5.3

JUNK BOAT DROPPING ANCHOR
TWO CHINES JUNK BOATS WITH TOURISTS DROPPING ANCHOR AGAINST A BACK DROP OF ROCK FORMATIONS REACHING ABOUT 300 METRES HIGH.
CAMERA NIKON D-50
SHUTTER SPEED 1/1000
F-STOP 4.0

SOME HAVE TO MAKE A LIVING
A LOCAL FISHING BOAT AMONGST THE CHINESE JUNK BOATS TRANSPORTING TOURISTS.
CAMERA NIKON D-50
SHUTTER SPEED 1/1250
F-STOP 4.2

OUT OF NOWHERE
LOOMING OUT OF NOWHERE THIS LIMESTONE ROCK FORMATION IS A MAJESTIC SIGHT.
CAMERA NIKON D-50
SHUTTER SPEED 1/640
F-STOP 4.0

SO CLOSE YET SO FAR
THIS ROCK FORMATION IS IN STARK CONTRAST TO THE TOWN IN THE BACKGROUND. IN LESS THAN A FEW MINUTES ONE CAN LOOSE THEMSELVES IN THE BEAUTY OF THE ROCKS.
CAMERA D-50
SHUTTER SPEED 1/1600
F-STOP 5.6

MASTHEAD:DRAGONS MOUTH
THIS IS THE MAST HEAD TAKEN FROM THE BOAT WITH THE ROCK FORMATION IN THE BACKGROUND.
CAMERA:NIKON D-50
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/500
F-STOP 5.6

ROCK FOR LUNCH
CAMERA:NIKON D-50
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/500
F-STOP 5.6

RACING BACK
CAMERA:NIKON D-50
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/500
F-STOP 5.6

DOGS HEAD
IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY THIS ROCK FORMATION LOOKS LIKE A HOWLING DOG.
CAMERA NIKON D-50
SHUTTER SPEED 1/800
F-STOP 5.0

MAJESTIC LIMESTONE
CAMERA D-50
SHUTTER SPEED 1/640
F-STOP 6.3

LARGER THAN LIFE
CAMERA D-50
SHUTTER SPEED 1/1250
F-STOP 4.8

SHEER CLIFFS
CAMERA D-50
SHUTTER SPEED 1/1250
F-STOP 4.5

6 TIMES THE HEIGHT
EXCELLENT COMPARISON OF THE ROCK HEIGHT WITH RELATION TO THE JUNK BOAT THAT STANDS ABOUT 20 FEET ABOVE THE WATER LINE.
CAMERA D-50
SHUTTER SPEED 1/640
F-STOP 5.6

WISH I COULD BE A TOURIST
LOCAL FISHERMAN IN HIS FISHING BOAT OU TTO MAKE A LIVING AND PROBABLY WISHING HE WAS ONE OF US ON THE JUNK BOAT.
CAMERA NIKON D-50
SHUTTER SPEED 1/500
F-STOP 5.6

SIMPLY AMAZING
SOMETIMES WHEN WE SEE BEAUTY LIKE THIS WE REALISE HOW INSIGNIFICANT THE HUMAN CREATION IS COMPARED TO THE ONES BY NATURE.
CAMERA NIKON D-50
SHUTTER SPEED 1/1000
F-STOP 4.8

WE ARE INSIGNIFICANT
I STARED AT THIS BEAUTY FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES AND EVEN THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH.
CAMERA NIKON D-50
SHUTTER SPEED 1/500
F-STOP 5.6

MESSING WITH NATURE
DONT WE HUMANS LOOK SO INSIGNIFICANT AND SMALL BESIDE NATURE? WHEN WILL WE EVER LEARN TO LEAVE NATURE ALONE AND JUST ADMIRE WHAT IT HAS TO OFFER TO US.
CAMERA:NIKON D-5-
SHUTTER SPEED 1/500
F-STOP 5.6

SOARING EAGLE
NEED I SAY MORE.
CAMERA:NIKON D-50
SHUTTER SPEED 1/2000
F-STOP-5.6

Comments

[OzzyMuthu]

Earth, Wind & Water
Nice pics....but why is the light a tad grey...was it misty or raining? The sun does not appear to be sparkling on the water.

[Byron]

Thanks for the Opportunity to Share Ha Long Bay
Bryan, I really appreciate the opportunity to catch your wonderful shots of the scenery in Ha Long Bay. As I read your captions, I could imagine your narration as you drifted along in the baton. Keep up the good work. I'll check back to see where next you visit.