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Published: July 23rd 2015
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Phewwww..... Difficult nights sleep last night. I went to bed happy and content...only to be awoken at 2am by the bloody dustcart! I'm not sure how long it was there, it seemed like half am hour, at least! Helen slept through the noise, also the disturbance of me banging round looking fort ear plugs! I didn't manage to find them, so settled fort iPod earphones instead.... Finally i managed to get back to sleep.
We were up at about 6.45 this morning. breakfast in the hotel was omelette sandwich and a cup of tea. This bus will be arriving at 8 - 8.30 to take us to Ha Long Bay. I expect it will take about 3 and a half hours to get there. We are going on a short cruise, 3 days and 2 nights. Here's looking forward to it!
We boarded the bus in Hanoi at About 9am, already half an hour late. We were like sardines in s tin. I was sat next to the tallest guy ever, and he took up a seat, and a half! Lucky for me that I have such short legs! I was able to sit sideways on my half seat
and dangle my legs over the scrunched in pack backs, thus making myself quit comfortable. At one point I noticed Helen in the seat in front of me; her head was nodding all over. I very kindly blew up the neck cushion to stop her nodding head! ...giggling to myself!
We arrived at Ha Long harbour. We had a bit of a wait in the belting heat before entering the building. In true Vietnamese fashion, it appeared to be pure bedlam, but in time, we were all sorted out and organised.
The first part of the tour was actually the day trip that I did last time, which I was initially disappointed about. I has assumed that as we were doing three days, it would be different. To be honest, I settled down to totally relax mode after the first half an hour! It was so calming and peaceful. That, coupled with the beautiful surroundings, how could anyone not be at peace with that!
We visited the caves, which again is just natural beauty itself, I had seen them last time, but it is always worth a reminder.
After the caves, it was canoeing and swimming, Helen and I chose
to take the relaxing option of enjoying watching everyone else. We chatted, and reflected overthrow last couple of years events for both of us, we were both happy, then sad, but definitely agreed that we are both happy to be where we are, doing exactly what we are doing!
We were asked to swap onto a different boat, apparently, to the one that we will be sleeping on. Picking our current live belongings up, off we went! We got given room number 5, it's ok as economy boat rooms go... Lol. It's got two beds .... And a toilet and shower in it anyway, I consider that a bonus! Helen and I sat chatting with a French man. He discussed his travelling tales of over four years on his own. Very inspirational.
We gathered for the evening meal. We had to seat 9 people round a six seater table..... Bearing in mind one side was against the wall.... This really wasn't a problem, but I wasn't happy as there were two completely empty tables! I did stand my ground for a while, but then accepted it.... After all.... I'm on my holidays... lol
The evening was a simple
Vietnamese offering, which I enjoyed, the company was good. We chatted for quite a while wot James and his partner from South Africa. They seemed like young lovers experiencing the travel together.
After dinner we went on the top deck. We became a group of 6; Jeremy and Annie from London who are on their honeymoon, a man from USA who is travelling with a lady from Canada. Between us all made for a really good social evening.
Then off to bed in the cabin (very loosely described) but like the girl said, you get what you pay for!
Regardless, I slept like log, as always. We got up at 4am to watch the sunrise, but it was not eventful at all.we both went straight back to bed.
We were up and out for breakfast a about 8, ready to leave the boat for Cat Ba Island at 9am.
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