Halong Bay, Vietnam - 24th May - 27th May 2011

After returning from our Sapa experience we were looking forward to the sun, sea and sand of Halong Bay.

We checked in to the main backpackers in Hanoi which was huge, along with Aaron and Fem a couple of other backpackers we met in Sapa. We booked on a tour for the next day and had a jolly evening with a quiz and some much needed Bun Cha (Flat rice noodles with pork meatballs and a sour lemon dressing = Amazing!).

We set off early, again on a very cramped and hot mini bus to Halong Bay. We boarded the boat and I think in all there were 50 or so people. There was a high demand for the tour we were on and they actually strung 3 huge boats together to accommodate the amount of people.

In the early evening we were paired up in Kayaks and had a heavy 4 km paddle out to a cave. After a few beers and the heat it was a tough task but we did come in first :)!

The cave was dark. Not much else to comment on really. It was this high says Dave who is sitting next to me and not helping on the input of this blog.... I didn't go it as I'm a pussy who seems to be getting more and more claustrophobic in my old age!

After a paddle back to the boat, in the dark i must add we had a scrummy dinner and the drinking games started. I have to admit that it wasn't really our scene. Everyone was so much younger than us and appeared to have been drinking for 4 months solid. We were quite happy in out little group having a giggle and enjoying the moon :)

After very little sleep ( we were in a cabin right next to the bar) we headed out to 'Castaway Island'. This was our own private backpacker island. Luckily not all people came to the island there were maybe about 30 of us.

The island was bliss. Truly a little paradise away from the city. There was a little bamboo hut which had a bar and the dinner tables. All our rooms were little thatched bungalows with open air mattresses covered with mosquito nets. It was very rustic! The toilets and showers were great too. The beach was a stretch of white sand and the sea was almost turquoise.

We set ourselves up with a few beers and had a few dips to keep us nice and cool. However i have to say the water was so warm that after 2 minutes it was no longer refreshing! What a hard life we lead.

Later on in the afternoon we got to try our hand (and aching arms from kayaking) at wake boarding! It was so much fun even though neither off us got up fully we were so close. If only we had more time. We saw a beautiful sunset and filled ourselves on a great BBQ.

Drinking games started up again. The group of people this time round were a lot more relaxed so it was much more fun. We got mouthfuls of rum and faces full of poster paint for breaking left hand drinking rules.

After a long night it was time to leave our island and get back to the city. Covered in green paint and wearing a sombrero we headed back to Hanoi. Next Stop, Hue.

To see our Halong Bay pictures please click on the link below;
https://picasaweb.google.com/112941139607408893724/HaLongBayVietnam25thTo27thOfMay2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCJGdtMvDwsuIkwE#