Halong Bay

January 21^st

Neither of us could sleep.  Weather a bit warmer but a bit foggier too.  Horn sounded about 5 am and we were both up hanging over our balcony as we slowly slipped into the port of Ha Long.  Lights on shore were enticing to watch.  The brilliant light of our ship must have awakened a sleeping fisherman, who was bobbing in the port, as he jumped up and started rowing his skiff toward shore.  He should have remembered to not park in cruise liner parking.

This was a tender day and we had made reservations for an afternoon sail through the beauty of Ha Long bay but we were up and ready at 8 for something that didn’t happen till noon.  So quick decision, time to strike out and go ashore to walk the streets.  Turn right and walk till the sidewalk stopped.  An about face took us to a street market and a school and loads of street sellers.  Many surprised faces and a few giggles as I talked to the young girls selling souvenirs to us tourist.  Even the guys in the local corner Vietnamese 7-11 got a chuckle as we bought Coke Light and water.  Postcards in hand and a few surprises for people back home brought us to the time for a tender back to the ship to leave again for an afternoon adventure.

We boarded a Chinese junk just after noon and were invited to a Vietnamese lunch.

Tomatoes and Cucumbers, Spring Rolls, Fried Squid balls, Rice with Sesame Pork, Fried Taxi Crabs, Steamed Shrimp and Fried Fish.  All this as we made our way across Ha Long bay to the UNESCO site where the mountains jump out of the bay.

Amazing to quietly motor through this maze of beauty.  We did make one stop at a fishing village that is one of many through out  Ha Long Bay.  Totally floating with no connection to land.  On this one they had stocked pens of fresh fish, crabs and lobsters that left us guessing at the names.  Unusual species that  can only been seen to believe.

If I say we quickly moved through this area it is because we could have stayed for days and not seen it all.  We ended the afternoon with a walk though a lime stone cave that had huge rooms.  Reminded Terrie of Mammoth cave in Kentucky.

But the day ended with us return to the ship about dusk to a quick meal in the dining room.  We looked at each other and admitted that we were tired but very happy.  How can we be tired when we are just roaming around and enjoying vacation?  Oh well lights out.