Walking tour of Hoi An. Temples. Covered bridges. Boat ride across the river to a village of boat builders. Cultural show and handicrafts. Hoi An has loads of tailors who will whip up just about anything thing in next to no time. Tash and I shopped, made some choices and had some fittings then as we drank cocktails, played pool and ate dinner our frocks were fashioned. Wayne once again (unbeknownst to me of course) managed to procure an amazing birthday cake and have the staff and guests sing happy birthday. We shared cake with fellow travellers and the kitchen and bar staff. Brilliant birthday!... read more

We started our day with Tai Chi on the sun deck before getting ready to sail back to the harbour. Before we left we we visited the Surprise Caves. There were 3 separate caverns The Surprise Cave the Amazing Cave and the Shocking Cave. Each had impressive features and although they may well have been spectacular the sheer number of visitors basically unrestrictedly touching, photographing and walking over has led to them being fairly ordinary and sadly grubby. Eking out the last of our Halong experience we lay on the sun deck watching the scenery go by as we drifted back to the pier where we caught a bus, stopping at the same type of tourist trap, back to The Boss in Hanoi. Wayne picked up some pizza, pasta and shopping mart beer whilst out getting ... read more

After breakfast we left Boss and picked up another couple. Typical stop on way at giant tourist shop with silk and lacquer ware and giant stone turtles. On arrival to Halong Bay 3hrs later we were ushered to the Glory Cruise waiting area and offered tea whilst we waited for our fellow cruisers. A tender took us out to our junk. Really lovely timber interior with lots of velvety accessories. Once everyone was on board we cruised through the bay with the massive limestone rocks passing by as we had lunch. We stopped at a fishing village and kayakked around. A fellow traveller lost his iphone from his pocket as he got out of the canoe so our return to the boat was delayed a little as one of the local guys tried diving for it. ... read more

Another yummy breakfast with something to please each of us. Eggs to order for Wayne, traditional Vietnamese for me, pancakes for Nic and lots of fresh fruit for Tash including a little lime salads in shot glasses. A city walk to replenish Tasha's Choki Choki supplies (tubes of chocolate goop that she apparently first discovered back home but can't get any more - she was very excited to find some yesterday in one of the supermarkets). We got some giant pretzels, booked a sunset cruise then after Starbucks Nic headed back to the hotel while Wayne Tasha and I went to the museums. The private museum that charges for entry is not worth the time or money to see a few chunks of petrified wood in mouldy rooms. The museum of Natural History and the Cultural/Ethnological ... read more

We planned to head out to Bako National Park today but injuries combined with poor weather conditions for the boat crossing to the park mean I will get time to update the blog and maybe even book flights home.... read more