Hop-a-long to Halong (Bay)

Dec 15  Halong Bay

We got picked up by Hung who worked for a tour company and rode in a van with seven other people: a Chinese family from Malaysia (Koat, Wen Li and their four year old daughter Joy) and a couple who teach at an international school in Malaysia, Rebecca (British) and Jorge. (Costa Rican) and a couple from Israel. We were off to spend two days and one night on  The Carina, an all wood nine cabin boat in Halong Bay with its beautiful limestone karsts.  Hung told us there are two types of people in Vietnam: the rich and everyone else.  The countryside was beautiful. The road was congested with lots of tour buses going to Halong Bay. It started as four lanes but once out of Hanoi we were down to two lanes making for slow going. The entire four hour trip we saw small farms for  agriculture (rice, bananas, and veggies) cows, water buffalo, and family cemeteries in the fields.

It was chilly and cloudy the entire time but we had a wonderful
experience. rival at the terminal, we had to wait about a half hour before the tender boats took us to our ship.

Upon arrival we checked into our cabins and  then had our first of
the delicious meals.  After lunch on the boat, we got onto a smaller boat that was attached to the side of our boat and were taken to one of the 2,000 islands in the bay.  There is no natural sand in Halong Bay, but the island had a nice sandy beach.  All the sand was brought from some place else.  We climbed a gazillion steps to the top where we got a spectacular view of the bay. Joy, the four year old and I struck up a conversation and latched onto one another. She was pure delight!  

Back to the ship briefly for a short trip. then onto the smaller boat to
visit the Amazing Cave.  Damn, more steps as the cave was half way up a steep cliff. I hate steps as my back muscles tighten up as I climb. Again Joy and I walked hand and hand. We were fast becoming dear friends. As we left the cave, hanging over the cave exit we noted what looked like petrified legs and boots hang from the cliff side.

Back on the boat she entertained us with two songs she knew. We were amazed at her dramatic abilities. She kept us laughing. Her parents worried that she was a bother but we loved being with this little piece of sunshine.

We had a sunset party on the boat then dinner. We went to bed at 9:30 and slept like babies until 6:00.  Our meals were fabulous with food that was plentiful. For example one meal started with pumpkin soup, banana blossom salad, fried squid, barbeque pork ribs, rice, sweet and sour chicken and burned bananas with chocolate sauce and fresh coconut for dessert.

Dec 16
The water on the bay was quite calm so no motion sickness.

After pho for breakfast we got onto our little boat and headed for the floating village. We transferred to a bamboo boat that was rowed by a local around the village. Incredible. It was made of woven bamboo that had been tarred over on the outside to prevent leakage and had a wood frame around all the upper edges to prevent damage to the bamboo when you went up to another boat or dock. And oar locks?  Forget them.  All you need to do is tie them off to the thole pins (sticks of wood).  Here about 100 people live on small boats or houses that were built on the water. They are all very primitive and fresh water is brought to them on a regular basis. We saw one or two boats going around the village selling fresh produce as there is no land to grow anything. The limestone karsts shoot straight up out of the water.

And finally a parting with our new friends:

And a long Van ride back to Hanoi.

We got back to the hotel around 5:00, took a shower, had dinner around the corner in a little French café reminiscent of old Paris  then headed to the train station around 9:00. We were booked in a compartment with four beds: two up and two down. Unfortunately Ron was up and I was down. But one of our bunk mates was a professional guide heading to Sapa on a job. He was curious about the US and Obama and we talked until bedtime which was early, I think about 9:30.