Descending Dragon = Halong Bay

Trip Start May 16, 2008
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18
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Trip End Sep 15, 2008


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Flag of Vietnam  ,
Tuesday, July 8, 2008

After a very early start arriving from Sapa on the train in the pouring (and I mean pouring) rain, we caught a bus to Halong City and then a junk boat to Catba Island in Halong Bay.  A UNESCO heritage site, Halong Bay consists of 3000 limestone outcroppings that are so picturesque, my camera will not do it justice.  Had a really fun group of 12 "young people"...which is awesome they didn't recognize Sandra and I as anything other than young....on our junk boat, mostly Danes, some Germans , Swiss and French.  Its fun that we all speak French and English and switch back and forth.  Meals on the boat were delicious, crab, squid and fresh fish.
We hiked up to TiTop Island to the Pagoda on top for the view.  I was so sweaty I am going to need to burn the underwear I was wearing.  Phew!  Sweat just pours off my face here.  So to cool off we took a swim from the sides and roof of the boat.  Fun jumping from so high and the water was super warm.  Then you heard....ouch, what the hell was that (in Danish), then another (im deutsch jetz), then another.  Jelly fish.  So I kept my extremities as close as possible and got out, quickly.  I offered to pee on the German guy's arm to cool the sting, I don't think he thought it was funny.
I am running a fever and the stuff coming out of my nose is a bit of a funny colour (don't tell my mom) so I was down for the count and missed the party on the boat that night.  Its tough having a fever in 35 degree heat.  Sandra brought her medicines from her African trek so I have drugs to control it as best I can. 
A night on the boat, then to Catba island for the sweatiest trek through the jungle ever.  Again, phew!  Spiders the size of my head, the guide would move the web aside like a curtain so we could pass underneath.  I like entomology and all, but not that up close.  The cicadas are as big as my fist.  Stopped for lunch at a house I was at last year.  The family's little girl, Minh, has grown a lot since I saw her last.  Still amuses herself with the simplest things, its pretty cute.  This time it was a broken camera and elastics. 
Kayaking through the bay after the trek was a bit of a stretch, plus with my cold, I was starting to get really tired so it was nice to stay on the island in a nice hotel with AC.  Catba is neat as its the Riviera of Vietnam for the Vietnamese, so we just sat there and watched them watch each other.  Oh ya, and I bought pearls.  So did Sandra.  We did pretty well I think....maybe a bit overboard, but when in Vietnam!
I am sure I am missing tons of info, but I am really wiped now and need to hit my bed.  Tomorrow cruise back to Hanoi, then to Hue. 
Oh and I am still getting a kick out of saying "Com on" ten times a day, it means thank you in Vietnamese.  Com on!!. Find cool where you can
Find cool where you can
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