Day 4 Cat Ba Bay

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Day 4
Decided to get up at 5am to catch the sunrise in Cat Ba bay. Internet said 5.20am we got up at 5am but it was already up! Am struggling this morning. The fan in the room stopped when they turned the generators off and the room is so hot. The bathroom is unpleasant and the toilet it so brown you can't tell if you've flushed! I didn't go for breakfast. Lesley left me to wallow in my self pity. Very nicely she has told me to lower my expectations. Am now dressed and feel human again. Have given myself a slap. Less of the whinging more of the fun and experience.

Waiting to steam into Cat Ba. Not sure what the itinerary is today. Waiting a long time for the bus to take us to Cat Ba town. Chatted again with the people we met last night although the French man seems to have disappeared. The coach was brilliant it was like something from the 1940s the door had tape on holding it together. But we had air conditioning and that's all that mattered.

The scenery was beautiful driving to the town. Lots of rice fields. We were told we were going to the hotel. Lesley and I planned our free time to get bikes and go to an old war hospital. However we suddenly stopped at a nature reserve where we were all told to leave the bus and climb a mountain or sit and wait for 2 hours. Quite a few of us decided not to climb. It was blistering heat and through what looked like jungle .... We were in flip flops. However we used the time well and caught up on our blogs as there was wifi and played a game with another couple. All ended well.

Off we went again and arrived at the hotel. We were seated and all brought lunch. A typical Vietnamese meal. Chicken, vegetables, rice, bamboo shoot and a treat of battered prawns. I managed the chopsticks well! Our room is basic but better than the boat. The bathrooms are a killer for me. Cold showers and dirty toilets. I'm getting better but it's a struggle. The sinks are hilarious. You run the tap, the water goes down the plug hole and all over your feet as there is no pipe to collect it. So really I'm spitting toothpaste all over my feet!

After showering and catching our breath it was now 4pm. It was too late for our day trip. We decided to venture down to the harbour. The beach was an option but it was warm but not sunny so decided to stroll instead. Met up with the Canadian couple from the boat and enjoyed mango and pancakes. We found the local food market which was full of fresh fish and vegetables. The fish were amazing, kept in large water tanks to keep them alive. Many were also cured. The smell was very strong. It's early evening now and the harbour is lit. All the boats are either red or blue and all have the national flag flying. I'm unsure whether this is because everyone is patriotic or it's a communist country and it is expected.

Cat Ba is totally different to Hanoi in that it is very touristy and could have been the harbour at any Greek island. The floating restaurants are amazing. A boat takes you over to them although the sea seemed very choppy tonight and I can imaging it being quite difficult to keep a glass upright! We met the honeymoon couple and sat and had a drink with them. We shared stories; Lesley has many to tell about her travels but I'm holding my own! Heading back to hotel.

No one knows what time breakfast is or what time we are leaving so we are just going with the flow. Thanks for all your comments they are very welcome And encouraging. Am really enjoying writing my blog ?

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Comments

[Val Rayner]

Give yourself time to adjust to things, it's early days yet. Grace said where is piggy?

[Val Rayner]

Give yourself time to adjust to things, it's early days yet. Grace said where is piggy?

[David Greenway]

Hi
Sounds fascinating, exhilarating, refreshing, funny and a bit iffy all in one xx

[Helen2911]

Hi
Hi David hope you're well. Your description was spot on I think! Settling into the low standards now. Expect poor and if you get good then that's a bonus. It's all very exciting though! Xxxx