Just cruising baby

Trip Start Dec 28, 2005
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Trip End Sep 01, 2006


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Flag of Vietnam  ,
Saturday, August 5, 2006

Trip to Halong Bay was excellent. Cruised along the Gulf of Tonkin passing thousands of islands and islets on a wooden boat with our tour guide Tintin (so sweet!) and a friendly bunch of travellers. The scenery was stunning, as the UNESCO site puts it a "spectacular seascape of limestone pillars". Was jam packed with boats and tourists when we got to the dock, but after sailing for about ten minutes we somehow lost them all and felt like the only ones at sea, so relaxing. Sat out on deck chatting and soaking up the sun until we reached our first stop "Surprising Cave" which we wandered through whilst having odd shaped rocks pointed out to us - one in particular made us giggle (when the photos are up you'll see what I mean!) Back on the boat and then a beach stop for a swim (such a hard life) and then a later stop for a swim as the sun set - lots of fun swimming under the moonlight. Slept on the boat that evening (cute little dinky room) which was really cool - sat out on the deck looking at the stars and drinking beer until we got sleepy 01 The boats...
01 The boats...
 . Woke up in the morning to a huge thunder storm and cracking lightning strikes, very dramatic - although I basically slept through most of it (it's a talent - one of few unfortunately). Luckily the weather eased up (otherwise i imagine I would have spent the day with my head over the side of the boat feeling sorry for myself) and we went kayaking that morning. As always Caz and I were super speedy and led the way... (mmm really)... More cruising and swimming ensued and then in the afternoon (desite the downpour - we were soaked) we went for a trek on Cat Ba Island - gorgeous. That evening we all went out for drinks and ended up in a karaoke bar, belting out classics such as Sweet Child o' Mine, Lithium, Born to be Wild, Zombie, With or Without You, We Didn't Start the Fire (?) etc until they chucked us out. Needless to say, none of us looked too bright-eyed the next morning. Stopped for a final swim and then headed back to Hanoi. Had a couple of hours and then boarded our night bus - a long night to Hoi An!!
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