Xin Chao from Ha Noi! Our Vietnamese is increasing by the day and so are our laughs from the locals! We are now safe and sound back in Ha Noi after a journey to Halong Bay in NE Vietnam. Words cannot describe how incredibly beautiful this place is. I would say if you only have the opportunity to leave the country once in your life, then you should travel to Halong Bay.This was my "must see" in Vietnam and we engaged in heavy research to find the perfect tour - Tours to Halong Bay are much much cheaper than self made trips and Halong Bay MUST be experienced by boat. We ended up choosing the Santa Maria chinese junk operated by Columbus Travel. I don't think our experience could have been better.... They picked us up - a fabulous and sweet guide named Lan. We got into the van with Lan and our driver to find only 2 other people aboard for the trip. Lan explained that the boat/tour was booked (at 16 people) everyother day that week, except for Monday (our day). We were so thrilled to learn we would have the entire boat to ourselves (except for that 1 couple!!)!!
We drove in the van to Halong City (about 3 hours E of Ha Long) - The drive was as crazy as the drive from the airport - No traffic rules - Tons of motorbikes - no real lanes - a bit hectic... But we survived and boarded a water taxi to take us to the Santa Maria. We gorged on a gigantic 10-course meal lunch - All very good! Next we sailed (or motored rather) amongst the thousands of karst limestone islands that make up Halong Bay (or the lonely sleeping dragon as legend has it)... I can't tell you how beautiful it was.
Words do not do it justice! We visited "Amazing Cave", which was, well, Amazing! Then we relaxed on board and waited for another gazillion course dinner. We ate like kings and then had our own private party with cake and champagne and of course, games :-) We were all pretty tired and crashed pretty early - only to be wide awake at 4 am this morning... (still not over the time difference)....
This morning after breakfast, we took kayaks into areas not reachable by the boat (i.e. beautiful caves and hidden little pools surrounded by towering green mountains). So much fun!!!! After that it was back to the boat to clean up (eat again) and head back to Halong City. Another crazy drive back to Ha Noi and then we were back!!
We spend this evening exploring Ha Noi a bit, making a stop at the water puppet theatre - very interesting and then walking to get our first taste of pho - After some pho ga we then headed to try the local beer and were gouged at 25 cents a beer!! :-) We then saw some rats (which Ally really hates) - It was a bit dramatic - there was screaming, standing on chairs and a fight between dog and rat - I'm not sure if this is bad luck as this is the Chinese year of the rat? hmm... We decided not to test our luck and headed back to our hotel where we sit and write and write and write. That is about it!
Tomorrow is our last day in Vietnam already (shortened due to our delayed arrival).. Ironically, my stomach has fared much better here than in the San Francisco General Hospital. :-) We're both alive and kicking! From there its on to Bangkok!! Hope you are well - bye for now!
Year of the Rat - (by Ally, not a lover of the rat, even the cute ones that look like mice as depicted by the Chinese)
Although Halong bay was a fun adventure, I was TRAUMATIZED later this evening! We went out for a beer tonight to try some vietnamese beer at a place that is supposedly very authentic.... the beer was decent and only 25 cents... but I saw THREE HUGE rats! Huge is an understatement! They looked like cats! The dog eventually killed one of them which took about 5 minutes! We were the only customers in there, and I was literally shrieking and standing on my chair! When the dog brought the rat right next to our table, I was seconds away from shimmying up the column!!!!! Everyone else thought it was pretty amusing, but I HATE rats! And they were squealing! uuuugggghhhh.... SO GROSS! I RAN out of there (and spotted another rat on the way out!) and shuddered all the way home! I am sticking to the clean bars from now on! AHH! It's worth the extra quarter for a beer! ;)
This morning after breakfast, we took kayaks into areas not reachable by the boat (i.e. beautiful caves and hidden little pools surrounded by towering green mountains). So much fun!!!! After that it was back to the boat to clean up (eat again) and head back to Halong City. Another crazy drive back to Ha Noi and then we were back!!
We spend this evening exploring Ha Noi a bit, making a stop at the water puppet theatre - very interesting and then walking to get our first taste of pho - After some pho ga we then headed to try the local beer and were gouged at 25 cents a beer!! :-) We then saw some rats (which Ally really hates) - It was a bit dramatic - there was screaming, standing on chairs and a fight between dog and rat - I'm not sure if this is bad luck as this is the Chinese year of the rat? hmm... We decided not to test our luck and headed back to our hotel where we sit and write and write and write. That is about it!
Tomorrow is our last day in Vietnam already (shortened due to our delayed arrival).. Ironically, my stomach has fared much better here than in the San Francisco General Hospital. :-) We're both alive and kicking! From there its on to Bangkok!! Hope you are well - bye for now!
Year of the Rat - (by Ally, not a lover of the rat, even the cute ones that look like mice as depicted by the Chinese)
Although Halong bay was a fun adventure, I was TRAUMATIZED later this evening! We went out for a beer tonight to try some vietnamese beer at a place that is supposedly very authentic.... the beer was decent and only 25 cents... but I saw THREE HUGE rats! Huge is an understatement! They looked like cats! The dog eventually killed one of them which took about 5 minutes! We were the only customers in there, and I was literally shrieking and standing on my chair! When the dog brought the rat right next to our table, I was seconds away from shimmying up the column!!!!! Everyone else thought it was pretty amusing, but I HATE rats! And they were squealing! uuuugggghhhh.... SO GROSS! I RAN out of there (and spotted another rat on the way out!) and shuddered all the way home! I am sticking to the clean bars from now on! AHH! It's worth the extra quarter for a beer! ;)
2 comments:
My Goodness.. RATS in a restaurant?!! I was going to ask (b/4 I read Ally's story) who won between the dog and the rat. Was it a tough match for the dog? Is it normal that rats are in restaurants there? Crazy! Glad you're having fun though, sounds like an amazing trip so far!
I wonder if rats taste like chicken?
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