Ha Long Bay

Well, now I have a lot of catching up to do, being now on the plane leaving Katmandu, so yeah, lets back up about 2 weeks + to the time just before a bad thing happened on my holiday. (The loss of my camera.)

But, here are the few shots that I do have.

We organised the tour through Hanoi Backpackers Hostel, pretty much the only backpackers in all of Vietnam with the exception the new Hue backpackers. (owned by the same company… )

It’s probably the most ritzy tour around for young people and it’s on the classy Phoenix Cruisers. The first night was on board the boat, and the second night of the three day tour is on the biggest island in the south of the bay called Cat Ba island. Its not really all that far from Ha Long city since the boat we were on was lucky to do more than about 6 knots at full steam.

The boat itself was 3 stories high above water, with the lowest level being for the crew and our sleeping quarters, the second being the large dinning room, and the third being the sun deck (see below).

Here’s our boat being overtaken by others.

The view was spectacular, these giant limestone cliff/islands everywhere.

All I could think of though, was attempting to boat around Ha Long bay on a boat made out of a scooter Top Gear style.

And, well, after this, my photos are gone, I had pictures of Nick having drunk himself to “the best time”. A few other great pictures, involving the use of a water bottle filled with not-water (but vodka), and other good things.

The following morning, we had to be up early, well, after having gone to bed at ridiculous o’clock, and I had the best night sleep with the air conditioner in the room having leaked all over my bed. We’re talking bucket loads of water dripping onto the bed, and my laptop… Hooray… good things to discover at 3am in the morning on a boat in the middle of a bay.

Anyway, we found ourselves on Cat Ba island at about 9am about to undertake a trek up a massive hill to a great lookout. The lookout had a big metal tower. It must have been a ridiculous age, the metal was well and truly rusting, the stairs made of just two metal rails, and the top step that was not there, was at one point of its life made of wood. Was somewhat disturbing.

Hrmmm trying not to dwell on the lack of photos, BUT, I did take an awesome photo of me on a motorbike that I hired in the afternoon of me in the mirror while driving. Just imagine awesomeness and it’ll be pretty close.

Good times were had by all if only I had pictures. Moving right along. Got back to Hanoi that night, and took an overnight train to Sa Pa for a two day trek. Of which I DO have some photos plus Nicks.