We get picked up early and pick up the rest of our bus/boat which is a collection of O.A.P's and foreigners who are couples. All day and night it has been raining heavily so we're surprised that the trip is still on but we're assured the weather is okay in Ha Long Bay. On the way we stop off at a handicapped school where they make various ornaments but it's good to stretch the legs and we meet Jason which is great who introduces us to his Israeli friend and we catch up for 5 minutes. We get to Ha Long Bay and we're allocated a boat whereupon we sit down and are joined by an English couple Keith and Claire who've been told they must come onto our boat. They're five weeks from finishing a years trip so fill us in on good/bad places experiences of the past year throughout the day. We have a really nice lunch with fresh fish the highlight and then move onto the deck so we can sunbathe. We get given our room which is lovely and i have a walk around the ship which is surprisingly large with all the bedrooms on the bottom, a bar and dining area on the middle and the top deck having a collection of sun loungers for you to soak up the sun. We get taken to the largest cave in Ha Long Bay which is really pretty but is packed out with people doing the same tours as us. Whilst in there Nic tries to get a security guard to take a picture of us both but falls over in the process smacking her side and leg with an almighty thud, luckily she's fine though as at first i thought it was serious. After finishing the rest of the caves safely we go back on to the boat and take in the views which are stunning, with 1969 islands dotted around the whole area. We do kayaking after with it being Nic's first time she does well although she needs to work out which is her left and rights! After she puts me to shame when we're allowed to go swimming and i struggle to jump off fearing for my life from a drop of about 4 feet while she suits her name jumping off like a salmon at the first attempt, I'm such a wimp. We have dinner which again is amazing all fresh fish again and huge portions and then spend the rest of the night drinking with Keith and Claire swapping stories thankful that we've got each other as all the other people have gone to bed.
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