The Luxury You Deserve

That's the motto of the company that we did our trip with to Halong Bay. We didn't know it when we booked the trip because we booked through one tour company that was highly recommended but it seemed on the trip we booked that they are just a booking agent for a higher-end company. Suffice to say, it was probably the nicest thing Reggie and I have ever spent money on...and it wasn't a lot. We kept saying the motto everytime we felt pampered or were enjoying some real nice pampering.

We were aboard a boat/ship (Ted, help me out, what's the difference again?) called the Indochina Sails 2. The cabins were done in teak from top to bottom and there were only 28 of us aboard. The scenery though slightly hazy due to midday sun was incredible. I know, no pics, so you'll have to wait until we get home, or until we get to an internet cafe where I can actually plug in an SD card into a computer instead of using a computer in the hotel. Our first stop, after a refreshing drink of fresh juice, pumpkin soup, sweet and sour shrimp, a mango salad, and some lemongrass chicken, was Titop Island. Why it is named Titop, I'm not sure, but I think it has to do with the one lookout in the bay that is at the tippy-top of an island. I counted 424 stairs but our guide said 423 to the top, and let me tell you, some of those stairs were not fun. I suppose our 103 stair climb to our room the previous 2 days was a good warmup. Once up top though, you get views of the bay like one sees on the internet and on postcards. After snapping over 20 pictures we climbed down ad starting talking to one of the other guests. His name was Derick and he happened to be from Penang, Malaysia but sounded like an Englishman, which was explained later when we found out he spent 15 years living in Manchester. More on Derick later.

Upon reboarding we got to sit on deck and just enjoy the views as the junk proceeded to our next stop where we would go kayaking. As Reg has never done it, she was quite thrilled we could and so we maneuvered our way around the bay and through caves for about 40 minutes. Good workout for the shoulders. Upon arrival at the junk, it was swimmming time. So we put our shirts back in the cabin and went out to the tender(little side boat that's brought with the bigger ships for embarkation as well as small side jaunts) and were about to jump in off that, when the tour guide, Duong tells us, "Off the top!" Thinking that he was kidding we went along and went up to the 3rd deck, which was a sun-deck and saw an Aussie go right off the side. Climbing onto the side, Duong started a 3-count, and soon enough it was off the side and down 30+ feet into the bay. What a rush. Soon Reg followed and we were floating around in the bay. Unlike 2 of the other passengers we weren't stung by a jelly-fish, which apparently are quite prevalent in Halong Bay. I went off the top a total of 3 times and Reg twice.

When we were done swimming it was relaxation/shower time before enjoying a mixed internationa/-vietnamese buffet dinner. Since Derick was travelling alone, we invited him to join the two of us and for the next hour plus we traded stories and tales. After that it was happy hour on the sun-deck which by now had become the star-deck. For whatever reason, the only people up there were the three of us and we talked for almost 2 hours covering everything from politics and education to soccer to life and traffic in Hanoi. Derick even mentioned how he had just seen a travel food program on cheesesteaks. We discussed the hell that is Hanoi traffic, with all 3 of us agreeing its the worst any of us have encountered in Vietnam (and Derick lives here now), how he hopes Holland wins the wWorld Cup (who doesn't?!), and why we love to travel. All in all a good night, in fact the best of the trip so far.

This morning it was a small snack before tai-chi and then we climbed the short 120 steps to Amazing Cave. This set of 3 chambers truly was amazing and surprising for only water can do to rock what was done inside those chambers. There were smiling buddhas, the middle finger, two people sitting on a ledge, and even a female turtle and her eggs, or at least formations that looked like all those things. Once that was done it was back to the boat for breakfast and the ride back to Halong City where we would catch a 4 hour bus back to Hanoi.

Now, Halong City is only 106 miles away from Hanoi, yet it took 4 hours. I finally figured out that even on roads that are 2 lane-almost highways the maximum speed is 30, sometimes 40 miles an hour, but with no one following traffic laws, there is no such thing as going that fast. Those 4 hours were some of the longest of my life. This was the part of the trip run by the original company we booked with and most certainly was not, "THE LUXURY YOU DESERVE." That said, I'm not sure that short of taking a helicopter (if that were even possible) of a better way of getting to/from Hanoi to Halong. By the way, Halong means Dragon bay, as dragons are very good luck here in Vietnam, not evil creatures that hide in basements as certain people are led to believe.

Now, time for some good stuff...introspective Nick (love you, Eddie!).

Its been 3 weeks since my dad passed away and at no time during the trip has it hit me like it did during the 2 days in Halong Bay. Dad loved natural wonders, whether it was a beautiful woman or the Grand Canyon. Of all the places we are to/have visited, this would be the one Dad would most like. He was a sucker for nature and the jutting limestone karsts, caves, and caverns would have been thing he'd have enjoyed. I can't tell you how much I miss him, but for a few moments, this trip sucked because I know that he won't be home for me to share it with when I get back.