How Long til they clean up Halong Bay!!!

Trip Start Apr 08, 2009
1
4
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Trip End May 19, 2009


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Flag of Vietnam  ,
Monday, April 13, 2009

What a day! We backed up all of our stuff and headed out with a group of 20 people we didnt know to Halong Bay at around 8am. Four hours later, we were all pretty sick of being stuck in the packed bus, and we were wondering if the weather was going to improve as it was quite overcast, as per the forecast for the month. As we loaded on to our boat I was really starting to wonder weather or not we had just wasted $70 on a tour that was going to be a let down, but was I wrong! As our boat headed out into the middle of the limestone pertrusions the weather changed in a matter ofminutes and we had what was the first sunny day in the last two weeks. Woo hoo! Fisrst on the agenda (after a few beers and some food) was kayaking. Sean and I loadedintoour kayak, and headed out on the bay. It wasnt to long before younoticed that the bay smelled pretty bad in some parts and the water was filled with areas of  garbage. It is like the people here just dont care about what is probably one of the biggest tourist destinations in the country. At any rate, I didnt let a little poo floating by spoil my fun in the sun. I think all in all we kayaked about 5km, which is a lot farther than I thought it was We stopped at a coupleof different rockswith inapproipriate names and went spilunking at the halfway point. Besides the awesomeness of the experience, I was quite thrilled about howwell my new five toed Vibram water shoes worked out in the whole kayaking/spilunking activities. As we got back to the boat the sun was just beginingtogo down over the rocks, soI busted out my camera and started going nuts. My new wide angle lensis proving to be quite an asset. It wasn't top long before out guide began toconvince us to commence the diving part of the trip from out 25-30 boat top. Not really my thing, but when in Rome... no seriously I have pictures. Aftera quick shower and dinner I hit the bed for a couple hours,and when I woke up around midnight theparty wasjustgetting started. Apparently Imissed most ofthe drinking games, and all of the drugs. Yes that is correct, appartenly the English guys on the boat brought a ton of Valium and Opium,which you can buy at any pharmacy here, and started going nuts. before the night was over there were about 5 naked english guys diving off the boat, 0 naked girls sitting around, and few other such as myself that were wondering what the heck just happened. Flash: I did not partake of any of the drugs mom and dad, so dont worry, and I shall not be traveling with the crazy Englishmen again, as Sean and I have decided to get as far away from the drugs as possible, although it is quite rampant in these parts.  Anyway, I promise pictures soon, but do not have the time right now. Cheers!
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