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We got picked up spot on 8am like they said, are we still in Asia!?
We jumped aboard the 20 seat and low and behold Caroline was on there! She booked the same trip as us but only for one one night and two days were as we are doing the two nights and three days.
After the rounds it took us 4 and half hours to get to the boat dock and that was with a much needed break for the happy room and some breakfast.
The weather wasn't great when we arrived at the harbour, the visibility was better than Sapa but wasn't what the weather forecast had said it would be. It wasn't cold but the sun definitely wasn't in sight!
We had a small boat out to to the big 'junk' (why they call them that I don't know!)
We jumped on board, it looked kind of tatty but they all looked as though they needed a good paint job!
It was nice inside, smaller than we thought it would be. Although I think I was expecting a royal Caribbean cruise ship, haha!
The decor was nice, everything was clean and our rooms were small but modern with a big power shower; so it wasn't all that bad after all.
Food was served, we had spring rolls and some sort of chicken in bread crumbs, rice and chips. so we were all carb overdosing!
We were sailing through the bay, the limestone rocks/mountains were everywhere and they were so big! It was a shame visibility wasn't at it's best, but that's what you get when you come at the end of their winter and beginning of their spring. It was a little disappointing seeing the rubbish floating about on top of the water, that spoilt it a little, it wasn't everywhere like they say on trip advisor but it was in some places. There are bin men on boats trying to do their best to collect it up using big nets but I think they're at an never ending battle with it.
Our first stop was the Surprise cave which is the biggest cave in Halong Bay, we took the small boat which is dragged along side of the big vessel, the cave was spectacular as I find any cave! They're natural made, it's pretty damn cool!
Next on the agenda was kayaking, Scott wasn't overly keen on getting in one with me because we haven't had very good past experiences with them. We just can't seem to get the hang of it.
We went around the side of one island, the water was really calm so low and behold we had the hang of it! The water is emerald green even without the sun shining on it, it's gorgeous; especially with the trees and bushes on the islands that have never been touched.
The third activity of the day was the titop beach, we think it's partially man made. It was nice there, small island with of course another view point! I'm starting to dislike these viewpoints I not keen on the 200 steps you have to walk to get to them! Once we reached the top it was worth it, a lot of people say seeing too many 'junks' in the bay spoils it but I think that it makes it looks more picturesque because all the boats are big white ones or small brown ones so it doesn't look tacky or out of place.
The fog was lifting and the clouds were thinning out a little so we could see pretty far, it's unreal that there are 2000 islands in Halong bay and I'm not sure if that's just Halong bay and whether there are not win the surrounding bays, like Bai Tu long bay and Vinh Lan Ha bay.
Once we had got enough photos we headed back down, I'm really not sure which way is easier, going up or going down!
Scott decided to take a dip in the water, it was like jumping into an ice bath! Fair play he went all the way under aswell! I went into my thighs, that's as much as I could bare! Scott jumped up or done something abnormal and popped his shoulder out of the socket again so he had to pop it back in... Great that's Scott crippled for a few days!!
Once we had our 45 minutes 'play time' on the beach it was time to go back to the boat, hot shower was gorgeous! I think we took a lot of it because we were both in there ages and the two English boys later said that their showers were freezing! Haha.
Our last activity of the day before dinner was cooking class, we learnt how to make spring rolls. Lots of shredded and fixed mushroom, carrot, onions and glass noodles; then you crack an egg over it all and mix it together and pop it on a rice paper and roll. Simples!
Today has been really good but we everything was time banded and very touristy, it would have been nice to have a little bit more free time at the beach and kayaking.
Dinner was really good! We had shrimp but with all the body on so we had to strip them, Scott dug right in! There is no excuse when we get home and he has not one leg to stand on about being fussy with things when he gets home!
Muhaha, watch this space! He will be eating cheese and butter once I'm done with him!
I tried a little squid fishing but none appeared and we didn't have any bait so I don think that helped at all. Whilst I was fishing I could here Vietnamese karaoke going on... And then Scott's voice appears in parts. He's only gone and started singing karaoke but Vietnamese songs! He sounded like one of them aswell which is the worrying thing! Haha.
I had to document this stuff so I managed a few cheeky videos before he spotted me! As the night went on we all ended up having a go, obviously after a few bevvies. The Australian guy was the best throwing some shapes about the place singing barbie girl!
We all retreated by 10.30pm, it was our first night ever sleeping on a boat. It didn't feel as though we were on the water though because the water was so calm.
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