We took a four hour bus to the city of Halong (where the dragon descends into the sea), where we boarded a traditional style 'junk' boat to tour the bay for two days. Although it was very cold, we stayed upstairs in the open air for as long as possible enjoying the stunning views. There were about 12 people on our boat tour, and we all seemed to get on very well. There were a few swedish guys my age, a couple who had spent five years touring the world as dancers and acrobats in the musical Notre Dame de Paris, and a few others from Italy, South Africa and the US. I think the memory I will take from this trip is not only the stunning Halong Bay, but also how you can have such a wonderful time with a group of total strangers, with varied languages and backgrounds... We all sat up playing cards, drinking wine and eating seafood late into the night, in the middle of the clear, dark, peaceful bay. It was a very very special few days.
Shopping boats... Modern Viet Nam... Beer and Pepsi for US dollars on Halong Bay.....
View from the top of the 90 steps which lead to the Hang Dau Go caves
Hang Dau Go & Hang Sung Sot Caves
Floating fishing villages
Cccccold Rhonda...
One of my favorite moments from our trip, kayaking around some of the islands with one of our fellow travelers Zuban. It was such an amazing feeling to get out into the bay, where you couldn't see another boat or person, just crystal blue water and islands to discover...
Photos taken by Rhonda when waking very early on the junk boat, to find a surreal, mirror-still, bay
Rhianna found some swedes as usual... with Kim, David, Klaus and Johan... we met up with Kim and David at a number of points along our simultaneous journeys south.
Lunch in Halong, check out the menu above... Homer Simpson would be in heaven... 'Steamed Crab full of fat in beer' ... heart attack waiting to happen
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