Halong Bay...

Thursday, February 21. Very warm but cloud cover.

Another great sleep!

Bags out at 7:00, we had breakfast at 6:45 and then back to the room to pick up our overnight bag, [rucksack] which is now very heavy and get on the bus to drive us to Halong Bay.

The drive was just under four hour with a 45 minute stop in the middle. There, of course, was a very large shop, more like a department store, selling all things Vietnamese that every tourist needs. We have seen this type of thing many times before all over the world. My enthusiasm has waned a bit but we did get a new pair of well made pyjamas for Fellette and a modest shirt for me. Very reasonably priced.

Shortly we were at the harbour and soon aboard the most elegant of ships that has 60 beautifully appointed cabins. Spacious balcony and everything you could think of. Our cabin was as big or bigger than many ocean ships cabins that we have been on, we were very surprised to see such elegance.

We had a day in Halong Bay many years ago when it was nowhere nearly developed as it is now. The harbour area has scores of Luxury Hotels and more under construction. I was flabbergasted by the difference.

We enjoyed a lovely lunch with scores of other ships as we sailed  amongst the various sky-reaching forest clad pinnacles [called limestone karsts] thrusting out of the ocean in a very unique formation that goes quite some distance out into the ocean, there're close to 2000 of these pinnacles which are really mountain tops! The stuff of Asian paintings…

We relaxed on board, skipped a couple of trips to a cave and a pearl/oyster place and both of us had a nap up on the sundeck.I had a great deep conversation with a chap from Victoria while Fellette attended a short demo on Asian cooking, on deck. Dinner with a couple from Peterborough.

 

An absolutely wonderful day!

Unfortunately the internet service is very tricky and weak here so I cannot send pictures today. I will prepare a separate post and send it from a more stable connection tomorrow.