Halong Bay
We stayed overnight on a boat. I've never slept on a boat before! This one was small, too, 16 passengers. We all kind of bonded, too, by the end of it. It was so much fun. The scenery was amazing.
I was very nervous because I read so many horror stories online about these boat companies that bait and switch - they show beautiful pictures on their website but then take you to a shitty boat instead. Our boat was really nice with very clean rooms and pretty decent food.
We got to the bay in the early afternoon yesterday and everything was foggy and hazy. Here are some pictures at the dock with all of the tourists -- it was a scene!
Here is a picture on the dinghy headed from the dock to the cruise boat.
Here is the view from our room on the boat
On top of the boat there was a patio with lounge chairs where you could sit and watch the scenery...
Or relax with a newspaper... (typical)
In the afternoon, we got off the boat onto these small canoes where we were able to get closer to the actual karsts (this is what these island formations are called: karsts).
This is a floating house, part of the larger floating community, complete with a floating school!
After the canoe ride we started cruising around and as it got later in the afternoon the fog burned off and it was beautiful.
Good shot of the patio on the top of the boat and Chris in a lounge chair...
The sky cleared up!
In the late afternoon there was a "cooking class", aka, wrapping spring rolls. It was fun and easy and they tasted delicious.
This is a floating bodega!!!! She had all the essentials, Pringles, marshmallow pies, Oreos, beer, etc.
We got a great sunset!
After dinner they tried squid fishing off the side of the boat and we stood out there to see some action but it was uneventful. No squid were caught, unfortunately.
This morning the fog was back but it was kind of amazing - it added it the mystique of the atmosphere. It was great that we got to experience the bay with clear air and also with the fog.
This morning they took us to these amazing caves inside the limestone mountains in the bay - it was incredible.
This area of the cave was written about in the guide book and was very famously shaped like a familiar male body part...
Here is the view of the bay up by the caves..
We lucked out and had a good cruise group. This one couple in their 60s from Ohio we really hit it off with and talked to them for a lot of the time. We ended up talking to everyone at some point and even bumped into one of the single British travelers tonight after dinner on the streets of Ha Noi.
Plus, tonight in Hanoi we also again saw our German friends from Hoi An! (the ones we shared a taxi with and walked around the town with) We felt like locals bumping into people like crazy!
Now that we are in our last city I will resume eating more locally and being more adventurous. We have three full days to sightsee but we are running low on cash so we plan to be really low key Saturday, especially since I have class at 8am on Monday.
I can't believe our travels are almost over! I do miss my bed though. The past three beds we've been in I have been able to feel the springs inside the mattress so I think my back will be happy to get into my own bed in China :)
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