Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Last Day Hanoi

Our last day in Hanoi consisted of a city tour of the Ho Chi Minh complex and the Temple on the lake.











It was nice getting to know you Vietnam. I'll be back another time to see how you're going.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Ha Long Bay 2 - Monkeys

We awoke to the gentle lapping of waves against the side of the boat and the promise of more adventure.

After breakfast, the passengers of Ha Long Sails 89 poured into a wooden boat to explored one of the lagoons.


It is inhabited by monkeys and tourist kayakers. A slightly lethal combination, especially since there are bananas involved....











The morning's excitement had tired me out, so I spent the rest of the morning sunning myself on the top deck, appreciating the gorgeousness cruising by, and still not quite believing where I was.

We were driven back to Hanoi, where we had dinner in the Old Quarter at Highway 4. Vietnamese Fusion...and also apparently the place to be seen if you're an expat living in Hanoi...






We walked back to the hotel, passing by the Hoan Kiem lake - and the army of couples that sit at the edge of the lake, canoodling.




Monday, October 28, 2013

Ha Long Bay 1 - Boats

Four hours from Hanoi by car, there is a magical place only accessible by tourist boats called Ha Long Bay. It's a UNESCO Heritage site, one of the 'new' Seven Wonders of the World, and basically one of the most beautiful places I have ever been (and probably will ever go).


Suited up in our life jackets, we hopped into one of the 'tenders' which would transfer us to our floating hotel.




We boarded our boat, called Ha Long Sails 89, and settled into our astonishingly plush cabin (complete with airconditioning thank you very much).




The sparkles is my goofing around with my special camera. FUN!


And kicked back watching one by one of the thousands of 'islands' pass by as we chowed down on amazing fresh seafood.








When lunch was finished, we went up to the sundeck just to relax and enjoy the view!




A little while later, we were hustled back onto the tender and taken to our first stop - Sung Sot Cave (the French named it the Cave of Suprises). 


The climb up to the entrance is beautiful but quite steep. Credits go to both K and I for being fit enough considering all the food we had just eaten weighing us down!




Soon we arrived at the mouth of the cave and began quietly humming the theme tune of Indiana Jones as we made our way through the three chambers.




This looks completely photoshopped but I swear we were actually there.



The view at the other end was just as lovely.


Which is more than I can say for myself, as I was sweating like a piggy.








We had a big apetite from all our adventuring - so a lavish dinner with lots of seafood was just what the doctor ordered.