Day 8 Ha Long Bay!!

What a day! We sailed in to Hanoi just as the sun was rising. And we gained an hour last night!

We had the inspired idea last night to get room service breakfast on our verandah. Good move. Corn flakes and an omelette never tasted so good. And we avoided the rabble at the restaurant when everybody wanted food at the same time.

And what a brilliant day we had. Though I must say, I am totally stuffed! We had a four hour cruise on a ‘junk’ in the amazing Ha Long Bay. Except, a ‘junk’ as the world knows it, is not what we had. We were on a wee boat. In fact, we didn’t see any traditional junks. No worries, the scenery was awesome.

There was a cave, with many steps up to it, and if we didn’t want to go there, we could stay on the boat for an hour. A few folk didn’t bother, two Kiwis had been there before.

Boy! It was a hard climb, with high steps, but there was a handrail. So I just took my time, got very red in the face, and got there eventually. And it was spectacular! Cathedral-like inside, and it went on and on, up and down steps and paths, opening up into huge caverns with wondrous stalactites and stalagmites formations. Our guide told us stories and legends about many of the shapes, but I always arrived as she was finishing.

There’s a shuttle bus to and from the city, but it’s very hot, and my feet are sore. Some people are away on a day trip, so the pool and the ship is fairly deserted.

I’m trying to catch up with blipping, if I leave it till the evening, as normal, then I’m out wining and dining. I don’t think anything more significant will happen today.

Also, dodgy WiFi, sorry not able to check in on my regulars.