HalongBay and the serenity.

I have an apology to make. My last blog entry was not so kind to the Vietnamese, having been scarily harassed at the airport. But now a few days in to my Vietnam travels and I am beginning to see another side to the country and its people. I like Vietnam. Maybe I could even grow to love Vietnam.

The first few days in Hanoi were spent lounging around the hotel while the last pains of my illness disapated. Then it was off to Halong Bay, a place I had been anticipating visiting since I first started planning my trip.

Halong Bay is vying for the title of one of the seven natural wonders of the world and it is easy to see why. Scattered around the bay are around three thousand striking limestone karsts and islands jutting out of the water which creates a misty and mystical scene. My camera was working overtime as every five minutes a new and perfect photo oppurtunity arose.

From Hanoi we booked a three day, two night tour aboard a chinese Junk that would slowly take us around the bay. The Junk slept fifteen and our tour group consisted of the usual cross section of travellers. A couple who were visitng Vietnam for a buddhist convention, some Swedes who had travelled form St Petersburg to China aboard the Trans Siberian railway, a few Americans, Brits etc... The first day was spent cruising around the bay with a stop off at a cave that was so filled with tourists that it became more interesting watching them then the crazy stalagmites and stalactites that filled the caves and resembled various animals and human body parts. Later that day we kayaked around a floating village before leaping off the top of the boat into the murky blue ocean. We docked in a bay surrounded by many Junks and settled in for a night of drinking and usual travel talk (where are you from? How long have you been traveling? Where are you going next? What is the  national industries of Sweden? What is your favourite food?). Conversations such as these are endlessly entertaining if washed down with plenty of Bia Ha Noi.

It rained and thundered all night and will definitely go down as one of my favourite nights on my trip. If you go to Vietnam do not skip Halong Bay.

The following day we moored at the largest inhabited island in the bay, Cat Ba Island, and trekked for a few hours up a steep muddy pathand admired the rolling hills covered with dense sweaty jungle, all the while on the lookout for the endangered Cat Ba Langurs (no luck there, but we spied a turtoise). We then checked into our hotel and spent the afternoon exploring the town and surrounding beaches. I even purchased a string of pearls for a ridiculously cheap price. Of course the night involved lots of alcohol and a spot of drunken karaoke, where prising the microphone off the even more drunken Swedes was a fruitless venture.

Halong Bay is popular with Vietnamese people too and it was nice to holiday alongside the locals. Walking along a beach I was dragged into photos with some of the holidaying vietnamese, something that happens a lot, we are part of the holiday experience and a picture with a foreigner is a big deal for them. makes me feel a little like a celebrity...

Side note, the vietnamese hand signal for 'come here' resembles what I think means 'go away'. Very confusing.

Oh Vietnam, you are growing on me like a small baby that poohs and cries and screams but  then suddenly smiles up at you and you forgive and start to feel something like happiness. I look forward to seeing what else you have to offer, I have a good feeling...