Day 22. Halong Bay
Really there are no words to describe today. Amazing, Fantastic, Exciting, Beautiful and many more.
Those in the group that were keen met Dee at 6am to see Vietnam as it is before the streets get busy and the tourists are awake. Sadly I needed my bed for that extra hour but I heard the tour was very interesting and the locals go to the park to do their exercises whether it be yoga, tai chi, or dance. The small group that went for the walk joined a group practicing their ‘laughing yoga’ (very good for you and a good way to start the day, making you feel happy and full of fresh air).
We on the other hand had a lay in till 6.45am. Time for breakfast, sort the washing to be left at the hotel and check out ready to board the bus at 8am. One thing Dee is very good at is time keeping. When he says the bus will be there at 8am he means 8am, certainly not 8.05am.
On board the bus for a four hour journey from Hanoi to Halong Bay. We were left to rest for the first two hours until the comfort stop. This was in a working factory employing people that had disabilities due to the American/Vietnam war 1964 – 1973. People had limbs missing, loss of sight and many of them it was the memory of it all that effected their brains. The shopping mall was full of so many beautiful things from silk clothes, art, marble statues, paintings right down to postcards.
We only had a twenty minute break this time so a quick look, toilet stop and takeaway coffee.
After the comfort stop Dee explained the history of Vietnam. He spoke from his heart as he described things that had happened to his own family and how the Vietnamese people fought for their country and are maybe still fighting for their country.
Our approach to Halong Bay was a bay with a large assortment of size boats. There were people everywhere and buses pulling in and dropping even more people off. Dee skilfully led us through the people and onto the shuttle boat. We were given ‘one size fits all’ life jacket and took a seat along the sides of the boat. It was only a five minute journey and the ferry went alongside the Star Fish cruise ship. We were shown straight upstairs to the dining room which was set up beautifully for lunch.
What a lunch, the food just kept coming and coming. We sampled prawns, tofu, squid, green vegetables, rice, pork and ended with melon. Far more than I would normally eat.
We were then shown to our rooms. Here was another surprise. We all had our own rooms with ensuite bathrooms. Our bedroom had two portholes with constantly changing scenery. It was a leisurely unpack and then onto the top deck to just take in the amazing scenery as we wove through the many islands of Halong Bay.
At 3pm a fleet of kayaks were delivered to our boat. Firstly we had to leave the ship and go back onto the shuttle boat. Bouncy aid on and climb over the side of the boat and down into the kayak. Two people in a boat and off we went. One of the crew from the ship paddled with Mary (who had never kayaked before) and acted as our tour guide. We paddled round the bay and then a large cavelike entrance appeared. We paddled through and it opened out into a very large lagoon. As we turned the corner the guide told us to look for the monkeys. Suddenly down the rock face appeared a troop of monkeys. The ship crew had given one of our group a bag with fruit and vegetables in it. The more we threw food onto the rock the more monkeys appeared from behind the bushes. Mothers with their tiny young hanging onto them for grim death. Young monkeys full of mischief swinging in the branches.
We took a leisurely paddle round the lagoon. Although there were lots of kayaker’s and large paddled boats it was so peaceful. The water was lovely and warm. The journey back across the bay to “The Star Fish” was like a game of chicken on a motorway. Large sailing boats and launches going in all directions. Thankfully we all arrived safely back to the shuttle boat. A five minute break and then it was into the shuttle boat for a trip across the bay to one of the islands where we climbed several hundred steps to a lookout point with stunning views across the bay, with all the different shaped and size of islands and boats from large cruise ship style boats down to small fishing boats. The view made it worth all the hard work climbing the stairs.
Back down the stairs and onto the beautiful sandy beach. We had assumed that this was a man made beach but no it was perfectly natural. Most of the group went for a swim while a few of us were happy to paddle nearer the shore.
Onto the shuttle and back to the ship. Time to shower, chill and go for dinner at 7pm.
There was plenty of wine to choose from on the boat (wine is very rare in Cambodia and Vietnam unless you are in high class restaurants and hotels and then you pay the price). The tables were set for dinner and wine glasses at the ready so big sigh and fork out £30 for a bottle of wine. The good thing was it tasted amazing, all the way from Ardeche, France. Yet more food, another amazing spread.
The group sat around for a while, it was far too windy to venture outside, then it was off to bed. For those of you that know me, I do not do boats. This was a big thing for me to think I was going to sleep on one. I didn’t have long to think about it because as my head hit the pillow, I was asleep.