Ha Long Bay

We ended up booking on V'spirit cruises after there were not so many options open. The typhoon saw 2 days of tours cancelled, so the at before we left was the first day tours resumed. Ha long bay is now one of the new 7 natural wonders.

A 3.5 our drive in a bus not made for Western rear ends took us to the boarding point for our cruise. We got on a small tender boat that delivered us to the bigger boat, with 13 cabins! We had lunch when we boarded. There was so much food. Crab, squid, salad, rice, curry, fish..and I'm probably forgetting some courses! 

We headed to a large cave called hang sung sot.

After the cave we went to a beach where we could hike up and get a good view of the bay. Unfortunately, it was quickly getting dark, so we hauled it up the hill in our flip flops, took a quick photo and ran back down in the dark.

We had dinner back on the boat, again so many courses, the coolest were the prawns they cooked in the dining room with just a bowl and lid, hot rocks, vodka and water. Mo is determined to use this method to impress dinner guests in the future.

After dinner we played a game with wooden pieces that you had to arrange in various shapes. Of course our table won and got free beers. I must find this game.

We went to bed fairly early to be up for 6:30 tai chi class, breakfast, and kayaking. We had second breakfast (or lunch) at 11 as we cruised back to the harbour. 

I think the ride back to Hanoi was slightly more eventful than the cruise.

First, we had a flat tire...or just some problem with the tire, but we were on the car repair street and pulled in... Then we had to go to another place because the first couldn't successfully get the tire off.  Here Sherrill and I are passing the hour we had to wait.

Shortly after we left, the driver hit a huge dip and I hit my head on the light on the ceiling. I now have a great goose egg on my head. The driver bought me a green bean cake to make up for my injury.

Currently, we are about 15 kilometres from Hanoi broken down on the side of the road again with a blown out tire.

Note about 20 minutes later it was dark, and their hazard was a tree branch thrown in the road. Mo took it upon herself to turn our hazard lights on! Good job! We were about to call taxis when a large tour bus pulled over and a few of us ran to get on it! Thanks to this company..,name tbd..we are back at our favourite Meracus hotel until our train in a few hours!