We just got back from a 3 day trip to Halong Bay, with one night spent on the boat and the second in a hotel on Cat Ba island. There were 8 of us, and it turned out that we had the tour to ourselves without having to pay the extra for the private tour option - a nice surprise! And given the extensive karaoke session on the first evening on the boat, this was probably for the best - what we lacked in tunefulness, we certainly made up for in enthusiasm.
Unfortunately, the weather was (typically, for this time of year) misty so we spent a lot of time convincing ourselves that this just made it all the more "atmospheric"! Despite the bad visibility and the mist, it stayed dry and we were able to spend the day on the 'sundeck' admiring the spectacular scenery and Tola, Jess and I took a kayak trip through a low tunnel into a beautiful, sheltered lagoon area. A little cold for swimming though....!
On the second day we were taken to a cave for a 'walk' which involved wriggling on our stomachs through muddy a hole about 60cm wide and 50cm tall - twice, in both directions! This led to many a 'Bridget Jones' moment for the girls, and my skirt and white blouse were definitely not suitable attire... We got some comedy photos out of this though, and the cave was pretty cool - not that we could see much with only one torch between us!
In the afternoon, we took a boat to the over-hyped monkey island, which was a bit of a dis-fest. On the way up the hill, we encountered an angry, large monkey. Our guide waved a large stick at it to get it to move from the path, and the monkey ran at him! After this excitement, those of us at the front were armed with large sticks and a healthy dose of fear for the rest of the short walk. We later learned that tourists have been bitten by the monkeys in the past, and that the monkeys are aggressive because they have been taken from their natural habitat near Hanoi and placed on 'monkey island' as a tourist attraction! SCAM! Luckily, we all escaped unscathed.
In the afternoon, we took a boat to the over-hyped monkey island, which was a bit of a dis-fest. On the way up the hill, we encountered an angry, large monkey. Our guide waved a large stick at it to get it to move from the path, and the monkey ran at him! After this excitement, those of us at the front were armed with large sticks and a healthy dose of fear for the rest of the short walk. We later learned that tourists have been bitten by the monkeys in the past, and that the monkeys are aggressive because they have been taken from their natural habitat near Hanoi and placed on 'monkey island' as a tourist attraction! SCAM! Luckily, we all escaped unscathed.
On the journey back to Halong city, we watched Invictus on DVD - what a FANTASTIC film! Ben had a hard time selling a film about how the 1995 rugby world cup was politicised to a group of 7 girls, but I think we all enjoyed it more than he did in the end! Rent it on DVD if you have not seen it.
Back in Hanoi, we hit Bia Hoi junction before the girls all left for Bangkok and various onward destinations. Thanks for the good times, Team Benetton!
Back in Hanoi, we hit Bia Hoi junction before the girls all left for Bangkok and various onward destinations. Thanks for the good times, Team Benetton!
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