Excursion around the Bay ...

Monday morning was another early one as we were being picked up for our excursion to Halong Bay, another UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's new Severn Natural Wonders.  We grabbed a quick breakfast, hopped into the luxurious min bus that Paradise Cruises had sent to pick us up, picked up a couple young ladies from Chicago and set out on the 4-hour drive to our destination.  About halfway there we had our obligatory shopping (rest) stop.  Prices were outrageous so even I wasn't interested in shopping, lol.  We arrived around noon and waited for the boarding process.  The Chicago girls were on Luxury Boat 4 while we were on Luxury Boat 3 so we wouldn't be seeing them until tomorrow morning.  We did meet a couple from St Louis, Missouri that were going to be sailing with us; Vickie and Bruce and struck up a conversation.

Paradise Cruises has there own wharf so there would be none of the craziness and jumping over boats dragging our luggage to get to our junk that marked the start of my Halong Bay cruise in 2008.  Our luggage was whisked from the van to our stateroom and we had a leisurely walk down the gangplank.  That's the difference some extra money makes I guess.

Our "home" for the next 24 hours

We had a quick "briefing" in the dining room and then headed to check out our room before lunch.  We were pleasantly surprised that we had a balcony cabin and the room was very comfortable.

Small but luxurious

Back in the dining room, we joined Vickie and Bruce for lunch.  Bruce has recently retired so he is bopping around the world on a three-month tour and Vickie has joined him for some of the fun bits including Vietnam.  Lunch was great.  Each of us picked a main dish and there was buffet accoutrements and dessert.  Ken and I had the beef tenderloin and the Missourians opted for the sea bass.  When it came time for dessert, the group of 16 ladies and 2 gentlemen from France had gotten there before us and luck a plague of locusts devoured pretty much everything in sight.  LOL, need to be better prepared for next pastry caper.  Sated, folks prepared for a visit to the largest cave in the Bay.  As I'd already been through the cave and it wasn't raining yet, I opted to hang around on deck and get some fresh air.  Ken and most of the others headed to the cave so I had the boat mainly to myself for an hour.

Views on Halong Bay

I wasn't up there too long, when I heard the sound of someone trying to sell me something.  Did I say salespeople here are very industrious and persistent?  Well, a body of water is no deterrent to capitalism.  There were a number of ladies, laden with goodies including snacks, wine and pearls no less, cruising the bay hawking their wares.  They use the long pole with the net to deliver the "ordered" goods and receive their cash payment.  I managed to resist, yet again.  Maybe Ken's lack of consumerism is rubbing off on me though I doubt it!!

Boat-to boat saleslady

Soon enough, the spelunkers returned and we went for a "spin" around the bay looking at the spectacular islands.  Vietnam is home to some 4000 islands and almost half of them are here in Halong Bay.  Halong translates to "where the dragon descends" and legend claims that the islands were created by a great dragon from the mountains.  Many of the islands have names but, of course, I had a hard time keeping them straight (lol) so I can only identify one for you.

 

Head Island

After a bit of island watching, it was time for a coffee and tea demonstration followed by a session learning how to make fried spring rolls.  After the chef put together a spring roll, folks were asked to try their hand at it.  Ken, of course, with chatting with a new friend from Britain, Steve, so didn't have a clue when he got up (I guess beer really is liquid courage!!) so the French lady that he was paired with, helped him along. 

Bruce and Latvian lady making spring rolls

Ken (under the watchful eye of the chef) and Christiane

Next, was a shot of rice wine infused with old socks I think!!  LOL, we learned a new toast and gave it a go anyway.  Soon enought it was time for Happy Hour (2 for 1 drinks) something that all the English-speaking folks could get into.  There were now six of us; the Missourians, Ken and I and a lovely couple from outside London; Steve and Kay.  Well lubricated, we changed for dinner and arranged to eat as a group.  The ship had provided traditional garb to wear to dinner which worked for most folks; not so much for Vickie and I as our bustlines and/or butts were not in Vietnamese proportions!!  Bruce decided to spruce his traditional head-wear up with a cap he had purchased in Thailand much to the horror/amusement of the crew.

The dinner was a seven-course set menu featuring seafood in numerous guises (some good/some not so much) plus a random chicken dish.  The consensus was that lunch had been better food-wise but the wine was flowing, the company was great and the conversation non-stop so a great time was held by all.  After dinner, certificates of participation in the spring roll workshop we handed out.  Here is Ken receiving his along with photographic evidence of his cooking prowess.

Spring Roll Diploma

After dinner, the choices were: a French movie with English sub-titles, squid fishing or sitting outside for another drink and a bit more conversation.  Ken and Vickie opted for squid fishing while the rest of us chatted for a bit until the blaring of the movie over the loudspeakers sent us in search for the fishermen.  While sitting on the deck, we noted a steady stream of garbage passing by the boat on a current of some sort and that was all the fishermen were managing to catch.  I tried a couple verses of The Squid Jigging Grounds to see if that would attract our prey but I guess the squid in Halong Bay don't understand English.  Back to our rooms for a good night's sleep.  Ken and I are heading back to Hanoi tomorrow but the other four are staying on-board for a second night and excursions tomorrow.