Ha Long Bay

I took an organized tour to Ha Long Bay, really it's the best way to do it. There is so much competition in regards to this tour, that the price is really low. For 3 days/2nights tour, includes everything (food, transportation everywhere, etc) I got it for $45. What I realized after is that everyone there paid different prices, and all through different companies....but it's the same tour...everyone gets on the same boat (but there are a crap load of boats....it's ridiculous!). Ha Long Bay is cool...but honestly not that impressive. The crazy islands are cool looking, and there are a billion of them. Everyone on the boat was complaining cuz it was kind of foggy...but I liked it, thought it added to the mystical affect :) Visited a huge cave, but it's kind of ridiculous inside, technicolor lights everywhere...but still impressive. Then we cruised throught some islands, and parked. That's it for that day, hahaha. It was ok cuz there were some pretty cool people on my boat, so we played cards and stuff, then slept on the boat...I liked that. In the morning we went kayaking, and I was lucky enough to go with a guy who wanted to explore the area (most people just paddled around the boat...I think that's what the tour wants, they only gave us an hour). Aitor (the guy I went with, he's from Spain) and I found a little cave to go through, then we found an island with a strange staircase and arch thing. We parked our kayak and ventured up the stairs....they went no where...just stopped. It was really weird, but super cool. Then we figured that we were lost....all the islands started looking the same, but we ended up getting back to the kayak dock...only a few minutes late :) Haha, then the dog on the dock bit Aitor right in the ass, truly funny for me because usually the dogs go after me. The dogs here are mental, and none are on leashes....I think they just go for foreigners.

I was dropped off on Cat Ba Island after that...only I was dropped off, the rest of the people were on a 2 day tour...seemed like the whole trip I just got added to other groups...but I didn't mind. Hiked a small mountain with a cool look-out spot (a rickety tower about 50ft up...I guarantee this thing is going to fall in the next few years), made some friends with that group.....then I got dropped off by myself again at a hotel.....so I rented motorbike and cruised around Cat Ba Island for a bit. After dinner a bunch of us went to a floating restaurant for a beer, then this rowdy group of Vietnamese kept bringing over shots of rice wine. After a while I told one guy I liked his shirt....he said he liked mine...so we traded right there and then!! Haha, so random but it was funny. I think I got the better deal, I'm pretty sure he traded away a real Burberry shirt (I know because I also bought a cheap fake one earlier)...those are like $60...sucker. I'm sure he just wanted to trade to make a good story...so did I :) That's it, I'm back in Hanoi. I'm off to Sapa with some cool people I met on the first night on the boat.

















Some random grave in Cat Ba Island....figured it was picture worthy.