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Published: March 16th 2011
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Couldn’t face breakfast as I was full as a goog still. Nads even liked the bread which was huge, but full of air. Checked out of our hotel after demolishing the mini bar ($4) and got on a mini bus for Halong Bay. The only other people only the bus were Frank and Heather from Melbourne and the tour guide and bus driver. Our guide Thong (Tom) talked a bit too much and didn’t quite understand questions all the time, but was very kind and helpful. I think all Vietnamese people are very friendly – for a price.
Saw lots of things on the bus trip that photos will explain more until my battery ran out. I do have a spare, but no charger, so I hope this one lasts longer or I get a new camera. Frank and Heather have an identical camera, but unfortunately they didn’t bring their charger with them either.
Get to Halong Bay past all the resorts that look like places (Sydney Opera House, White House, Temple of Ramses, etc.) and get on a mid size junk that looks solid enough. The beds are actually better than the hotel, even though they are two singles next
to each other. The emergency map is drawn wrong, the tap hose leaks, but they surprisingly well appointed when you remember that you are sitting on the water.
The views around Halong Bay are simply astounding. Thousands of tiny islands with micro beaches all around. We have lunch on the boat, visited a fishing village with a cat with the world’s worst meow and then went on a walk through the “dry cave”. Lots of photos.
We then got some double kayaks to wander around the area. Either these are much easier to operate than mine, or me being in the back of the kayak is a much better idea. As a bonus, I could hardly hear Nads speak.
We arrived at one island that had a sizeable beach (including a beach volleyball net – but we didn’t use it). We then climbed the “pagoda trail”, which was 430 steps to the top. I did it barefoot, so I didn’t rub my wet feet in my thongs. The view from the top at the sunset was spectacular. Lots of French people around the place. Bloody French, you’d think they used to own the place!
When we got back down, we
were given the choice of kayaking back to the depot or just getting on the boat. We just got on the boat. One of the lads from the boat therefore had to paddle both the kayaks by himself and I’m sure that they played a trick on him and ran away from where he was taking the kayaks, because he seemed to be following us for ages and another guy was pointing and grinning at him.
We then settled down for tea at our overnight docking point. Tea was quite spectacular with roses carved from carrot and a prawn fountain. We had great chats with Frank and Heather ; really lovely couple.
While we are sitting around, we can see all the other boats anchored around, including one dubbed the floating MacDonalds. Suddenly a huge cruise liner appeared out of nowhere, apparently from China, but it disappeared again just as quickly.
Sleep was OK, the beds were comfortable enough and the temperature was pretty well ideal. Lucky as the air con didn’t work.
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aina
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cat
It was probably meowing in Vietnamese