Hanoi -> Halong Bay
Straight off the train to the hotel. Dump bags. Go on facebook. Get on a bus to Halong bay. Standard stopping tactics on the way there - just 1.5 hours in we had to stop at a huge shop for the driver to "have a break". My knowledge of Vietnamese extends far enough to translate this to "collect his commission / fuel coupons". This shop was particularly horrid as everywhere I went I was followed about by an assistant. I didn't really notice until I saw that this was happening to absolutely everyone. Others tries walking round and round a statue to get rid of theirs. Didn't work. We then decided to follow the followers, but this failed to as the people they were following just wanted to chat to us. Nevermind.
Reaching Halong Bay, I boarded a junk. My expectations for a boat that has a name synonymous with trash were low, but it was actually very good! Upstairs was the restaurant and bar an downstairs were the cabins, which has ensuites and everything, pretty swish for a one night stay. I did feel bad later when I came out of my room at night to find the cabin crew sleeping on the floor of the dining room or even on the roof.
Anyway, Halong Bay consists of impressive geological rock formations, some of which had caves inside. I visited one cave where the guide kept pointing out rocks shaped as animals and buddas (I could see about two of the ten or so ones he pointed out). He didn't really understand about geology either: "the leaf turns to rock and then the rock turns into water". Hmmmm. Not sure about that.
Back on the boat we had a swim in an extremely strong current (you basically swam to keep still, excellent training) and then a very fishy but good meal. Finally, and unfortunately, kareoke. I wasn't personally involved, but I hope somebody enjoyed it.
Straight off the train to the hotel. Dump bags. Go on facebook. Get on a bus to Halong bay. Standard stopping tactics on the way there - just 1.5 hours in we had to stop at a huge shop for the driver to "have a break". My knowledge of Vietnamese extends far enough to translate this to "collect his commission / fuel coupons". This shop was particularly horrid as everywhere I went I was followed about by an assistant. I didn't really notice until I saw that this was happening to absolutely everyone. Others tries walking round and round a statue to get rid of theirs. Didn't work. We then decided to follow the followers, but this failed to as the people they were following just wanted to chat to us. Nevermind.
Reaching Halong Bay, I boarded a junk. My expectations for a boat that has a name synonymous with trash were low, but it was actually very good! Upstairs was the restaurant and bar an downstairs were the cabins, which has ensuites and everything, pretty swish for a one night stay. I did feel bad later when I came out of my room at night to find the cabin crew sleeping on the floor of the dining room or even on the roof.
Anyway, Halong Bay consists of impressive geological rock formations, some of which had caves inside. I visited one cave where the guide kept pointing out rocks shaped as animals and buddas (I could see about two of the ten or so ones he pointed out). He didn't really understand about geology either: "the leaf turns to rock and then the rock turns into water". Hmmmm. Not sure about that.
Back on the boat we had a swim in an extremely strong current (you basically swam to keep still, excellent training) and then a very fishy but good meal. Finally, and unfortunately, kareoke. I wasn't personally involved, but I hope somebody enjoyed it.
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