Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
We were up quite early this morning, our email had said that we would be getting picked up from our hotel between 8am and 8.20am so we had our breakfast at the hotel at 7.00am then packed the rest of our things. The email had also said travel light and leave any big luggage at your hotel but we are not coming back to this hotel so we were taking everything. We got a phone call to say they would be picking us up at 7.50am so we then had to rush a little. We got downstairs started to check out and then a guy came in to collect us. We got on the bus and then it went to various different hotels collecting people along the way. The guy introduced himself as Tom, which wasn't his real name but he said everyone in Vietnam has a nickname and this was his and told everyone what to expect from the trip he then got everyone to introduce themselves so we all knew each other. He told us it would take quite a long time to get to Ha Long Bay and we would be having a stop around half way to stretch our legs and use the bathroom. Once at the stop point we got dropped off the bus, told we had 25 minutes and told where to meet the bus again. All that was there were toilets and a huge shop with ridiculous prices for everything. Outside they sold garden statues which they shipped all over the world and inside they had a mix of furniture, handbags, clothes, ornaments, souvenirs and snacks. A bag of mm's would have cost around £2.50, that's how expensive it was. Once back on the bus we set in for another journey, Tom gave us some information about Vietnam including photographs. He explained about the different foods they eat, including dog, yes there were photographs of this and snake and its blood to drink, yet more photographs! It was really interesting though and they are very much aware of the western thoughts of them eating dog. He was funny with it though and told us about it in good humour. When we got to Ha Long Bay we all got off the bus and Tom got us our tickets to get through to the small boats which take you to the larger boats. We got on a small boat and then onto our large boat, we all sat at the dining tables where Tom explained what we would be doing and when. Then we got given our keys to our rooms and were given about half an hour until we would be having lunch. Our room was nice, it was larger than I thought it would be, probably larger than a couple of hotel rooms we have stayed in so far. We went out when we were told it was lunch time and took a seat at one of the dining tables, lunch was delicious, rice, fried squid, squid in sauce etc. After lunch we had about 15 minutes before we would be going out on our first trip. We waited for everyone then we all got on the small boat that had brought us to the large boat and set off for a place called Ti Top island where you can climb to the top to look out onto the bay or you can swim as there's a beach there. It's quite cold, everyone is in trousers, jumpers and shoes so no one was opting for the swim! So we all climbed the steps, there were nearly 500 steps we got told, it felt like it too, but the photos we got were worth it, it did look amazing from up there. We made our way back down and waited at the beach where a couple of people had a paddle. We got talking to an American couple called Kat and David who were really nice. We made our way back to the small boat then with everyone on board we went to the larger boat, again we were given about 15 minutes before our next trip. This time we were going to go kayaking so we needed to get changed. We were told to wear something you didn't mind getting wet. There were just three people who didn't join in with the kayaking but everyone else gave it a go. They were kayaks for two people so we got into them and Tom led the way. It was good fun kayaking here, it was a lot calmer than the last time we were in a kayak. We went between two large islands and then through smaller ones where only kayaks could get to, in there Tom shouted to everyone that there were monkeys here. We got further in and saw that there was a family of three monkeys huddled together in front of us on the side of one of the islands. Then when your eyes started to move around you started seeing more and more monkeys, swinging from trees all over the place. We spent quite a bit of time here as it was so great to watch all the monkeys. Before we got on the kayaks we could borrow a dry bag from the boat so you could take your camera with you. So we managed to get some photographs too. We then all made our way back to the boat and were told that when we get back there would be hot water from 5.00pm which it was now, if anyone wanted a shower. So we got off the kayaks which wasn't my favourite, and went back to our room for a shower. At 6.00pm we were all called back to the dining area for a cooking class. This involved us all watching
While the chef put ingredients in a bowl and Tom explained what it was. We were making spring rolls which would be fried for our tea later. It went ok, we all made then different shapes and sizes but when we had them later they were delicious. After the spring roll making it was 'happy hour' at the bar, buy one get one free on cocktails. So James and I and Kat and David got some cocktails before tea. We then had tea which involved the spring rolls, large prawns, a chicken dish, fried squid, rice and cucumber salad. It was really tasty. After tea there were some rods at the front of the boat to do some squid fishing. Apparently it's not the season for squid but you never know, although saying that no one caught anything! Eight of us went up to the top deck of the boat and drank some beers until we all got too cold at around 11.30pm.
- comments