It’s a Wonder...... Halong Bay

We were at the end of the first leg of the trip and the beginning of the second when we said goodbye to three of our travelling companions and were joined by 12 new ones. Two Irish (1M 1F) from County Cork, 4 (F) Danes, 1(M) 1(F) Brits, 1(M) American, 1(F) German, (1M 1F)Canadians. Our four hour bus ride from Hanoi to Halong Bay was uneventful until the massive protrusions started to appear on the horizon. Situated eighty kilometres south of the Chinese border we come upon Halong Bay which was voted online as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Jennifer best describe it as St. Lucia Pitons on steroids. We are met by a tender which is to ferry us to our ship which will be our home for the next 24 hours. Wonderful accommodations and a backdrop setting of huge misty  enshrouded mountain peaks surrounded by a beautiful, clear, green bay water  which has been declared a UN Heritage Site. The first few hours were spent cruising before disembarking to explore a fabulous cavernous cave. Truly astounding!! Pictures au bout and a constant stream of never ending panoramic vistas. The camera was on overdrive today. A delicious onboard dinner before retiring to our most comfortable cabin with huge windows to take in the night view of the other gaily lit ships surrounding us. We both agreed the bed was the most comfortable and the sleep the most relaxing since we had arrived.

Up at seven to catch the tender over to a secluded beach and a steep hike up a mountain to view the 360 degree view of the bay. In a word, spectacular! Back on board for breakfast and the cruise back to shore for disembarkation and the next road trip, back to Hanoi and our 15 hour night train to Hue. The train itself was a relic and despite the terrible condition our car was in it appeared to be first class compared to what many of the local people were travelling in. Surprisingly I got some sleep after having played “I spy with my little eye” and “My Grandmother’s Trunk” with some of our new travelling companions.