Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
We booked a three day boat trip to Halong Bay and set of in the morning to drive up the coast. When we arrived we got on a boat and had lunch. We all went up to the deck to start sunbathing before we went to the caves. After the caves we got back on the boat and stopped in the bay for people to swim.
That evening we had a meal and then started to play cards, we had a good group of people on the boat so most people joined in. We started to play the ring of fire, a drinking game and I ended up a long old night!The next day we went to Cat Ba Island where we were staying in a hotel. We checked in and then had lunch before getting back on the boat for some kayaking. The whole group set of in pairs and went to a small alcove, a few of us decided to stop paddling for a while and just relax. The rest of the group left the alcove ad by the time we'd come out of the alcove the others were nowhere in sight!! We weren't really sure what to do so we floated around for a while trying to decide if we should try to find the beach that they were heading to or just to go back to the boat. As we didn't have a clue where the beach was we thought it would be best to head back to the boat but we weren't entirely sure where it was. After debating which direction we had come from we finally made it back. The other weren't there so we got out of the kayaks and waited on the boat for them to return. When they arrived back I think the guide was incredibly happy to see us. Apparently it had taken half and hour for him to notice that half of the group was missing.
We went back to the hotel, had some food and then went to a local bar. All the bars closed at 11.30 so we got a bottle of vodka and went back to the room. We stayed up quite late so only managed to get a couple of hours sleep. I didn't make it up in time for breakfast so we got a wake up call from the hotel; I quickly packed everything into my bag and went down stairs where the bus was waiting. The two Sarah's were no where to be seen so Justin went to their room to get them, they weren't even up so had to pack everything and get down stairs.
The bus was taking us back to the boat to return to the mainland. As were about halfway through the half an hour journey I realized I'd left my Ipod and glasses by the side of my bed. I tried to look for our tour guide but he wasn't on our bus. When we arrived at the boat I told Sarah who said she would jump on a motorbike and go back to get it for me.
When Dave, our tour guide, arrived I told him that I had left my passport at the hotel and that one of the other girls had gone back on a bike to get it for me. I thought saying my passport was would seem a little more reasonable than my Ipod and glasses!Given that the other two girls had already held the bus up Dave was not very happy!!! I told him that I would stay and wait for her to return and that he and the other guest should all get on the boat and head back to the mainland and I would sort out a way for us to get back. I felt really guilty for holding everyone up so didn't want them to have to wait as it would take Sarah about an hour to get there and back. The other Sarah said she would wait with me so we sat at a little stall and got ourselves some drinks.We had been sat there for about 20 minutes, happily chatting away with the locals when Justin and Dave walk up. We thought that the boat had left ages ago so were shocked to see them. Dave said that he couldn't go without us and that the boat was waiting for Sarah to come back - I felt so guilty!
Just at that moment we got a text from Sarah to say that she had got the stuff ad was on her way back and would be about 25 minutes. Dave was not impressed!! He went and spoke to the captain of the boat and came back and said that we would have to pay him for keeping him waiting. I paid $25, I think this is a fair amount given my Ipod cost 160 pound as did my glasses.
Sarah finally made it back and I had to get to her with my passport before Dave could see! We got on the boat and everyone looked at us, I felt terrible. I had to go round and apologize to several people, I think if they knew the truth that it was my Ipod and glasses they wouldn't have been quite so sympathetic!!
- comments