Friday, 18 May 2012

Still can't figure out spaces

Chris and I have been basking in Vietnams glory for a week now. We spent the first day avoiding scooter death in Hanoi, going to the markets, the lake, trying different street foods, and drinking the 25 cent draft with the locals on the street. One day was more than enough and we booked a three day, two night, boat/bungalow tour with White Sails in Halong Bay and Cat Ba Island. Defiantly my number one excursion on this trip. We had a tour guide Frank, who I referred to as Uncle Jason (the personality similarities were uncanny, this guy was a riot) who had us on a tight schedule all through the first day but was very silly and chatty.  After a four hour bus ride we finally got on our boat and the sensation of being on the water almost exploded my heart. Over 3000 craggy... Do you know what craggy means? I had to explain this to Chris and couldn't think of a different word than craggy, so he calls them rocky rocks... Islands stand tall out of the Gulf of Tonkin. Sure, the water isn't the cleanest but after a day of kayaking, trekking, and touring caves nothing beats a jellyfish infested swim. The scenery was surreal and the calmness at night under the stars surrounded but lovely boats (junk) was so fulfilling. We had a really fantastic group of ten, Chris and Ben being the only boys, whom easily warmed up to each other as we overindulged in the best food I've had since I've been out here. Being a veggie was no problem on this tour, I felt like a queen. Chris and I snuck a bottle of vodka on the boat, got busted but nothing came of it, and had several laughs at Franks expense (I think he got into the rice wine).  We visited "surprising cave", the biggest I've ever been in but I hear they just found the worlds biggest cave elsewhere in Vietnam. It had me awestruck and the amount of "things" which have been carved into the rock naturally over the years is outstanding. Personally, I think Frank was high but every rock was an animal or person, or even Romeo and Juliet. Absolutely,beautiful though and a nice cool down from the humid day. We then took to the water for some kayaking in which case I just sat there day dreaming while Chris paddled me around and tried to search out more caves with no success. The next day we said goodbye to our new friends and headed to Cat Ba Island some some serious action. Jurassic park came alive in this National Park. It started with a good distance, at some times steep, bike ride before embarking on a wicked trek/rock climb that Chris and I both wish we were more prepared for. I was constantly distracted by animals which held the trek up a little, but I managed to spot a frog the size of my thumb nail, cute! We visited a bat cave, saw some amazing views and scenery, a did a pretty serious climb that was well worth the sweat and danger. We were all feeling very alive after this and had a second wind when we got to our bungalows over the water on our private beach. Once we checked into our bungalows we had time to swim, however low tide made it possible to walk to the next island, kayak again, visit monkey island which Chris renamed ant island as he came flying out of the jungle screaming and flew into the water, and get some beach volleyball in before dinner. Afterwards Chris proceeded to show the locals no mercy on the pool table while I sniffed out a bottle of Cab Sav our neighbors were enjoying on the deck.  Fun fact: still backwards on the otherwise of the world, back in Saigon.

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