Halong Bay

Day 1: I was very excited about this. Rich had told me how spectacular the bay is and the 3-day tour seemed really good so I had high hopes.

The bus picked us up at 8am and we set off for the 4 hour journey to Halong City, where we would get on our boat. With myself, Jay, Andreas, Jakob and Miriam were Mitja (Germany), Sebastian (Argentina), Tom & Georgia (A young aussie couple) and a few others who we didn't talk to as much.

Arrived at Halong City about 1pm and our tour guide (Duc) gave us all tickets to board our boat. Once we got on, we all wanted to go up on the roof, only to be told that it was a health and safety risk and we couldn't while the boat was near the harbour. Ironic that they have regulations for a boat pulling away at about 1mph, considering everything else they don't worry about in S.E.Asia. We all had a laugh about that.

Settled down for lunch on the boat and checked into our rooms for that night (also on the boat - not too shabby either). We then went out to explore the Bay. All I can say is: WOW!!! It's amazing, one of the best things I've ever seen. There's something like 3000 Islands that comprise Halong Bay and none of the photos I took can do it justice (I will put some up soon - promise) It's pretty breathtaking.

We stopped off after a while to explore a cave on one of the islands. Pretty good but nothing compared to Kong Lor - that's now the benchmark when it comes to caves. It was impressive though, despite the fact that there were too many colourful lights in there and there was a ''natural'' water spring (which Aussie Tom questioned and then found the pump for! haha). Duc was desperately trying to convince us it was natural. Quite funny.

While exploring the cave, I also bumped in Ross (guy from Swindon) and we caught up on what we had done since the cave. It's amazing how many times you bump into people again later in your trip.

Back onto the boat (but not the roof) and we went further into the Bay. It gets more amazing the further you get in and got even better when we went kayaking around and between some of the islands. This was really good as you can then appreciate the size of some of them and get right up close.

Got some good photos there and then back on the boat to get to the edge of Cat Ba island, where we would be anchoring and spending the night. After dinner, myself, Andreas, Miriam, Mitja, Tom and Sebastian settled down for some cards playing a game that Mitja knew from Germany. It was a really good game actually and we had a good laugh playing. Got to know them all much better and all really cool people. Mitja, Sebastian and Jay are all heavily into their meditation and it was quite interesting chatting to them about that - I've not been converted yet though!

Had to be in bed by 10:30pm (boat rules).

Day 2: Up early for breakfast. Today, we would be spending the day and night on Cat Ba island. After breakfast, we went onto the island and got on a mini-bus to the first stop. This was a 2 hour trek, up and back down a small mountain. Of course, I hadn't been told that trekking was involved in the package so didn't bring my trekking shoes - Duc had reminded us to bring them about an hour after we had left Hanoi. Cheers mate. So it was trekking in pumps for me - not ideal but it wasn't too challenging and we all made it to the top. I wasn't the only one without the right footwear either - surprise, surprise. It's sometimes quite difficult to find out exactly what you need for these tours.

Anyway, the trek was good and gave us some great views of the Island from the top. We then climbed back down and got back on the bus to head to our hotel and check in. When we arrived, Miriam and Jakob enquired about the extra Kayaking they had booked while back in Hanoi, only to be told be our new tour guide (Tom) that ''we don't offer that here''. He was aggressive from the start with quite a few of us and Miriam got a bit upset. The trouble with some of these tours is you never know if you are always going to get what you ask for. Its very easy for them to get out of it. Unfortunately, that just seems to be the way sometimes out here and you just need to get on with it. Maybe the meditation chats did have an effect on me!

After lunch, we had the option of ''free time'' or to go on a trip to Monkey Island. I chose the latter and was joined by Jakob and some other guys from another group. We got a boat over to the Island and were ''greeted'' by a number of Monkeys sitting on the beach, waiting for tourists. I'm not sure what type of monkeys they are but it became an interesting trip.

We were briefed on the way (again, something new to S.E.Asia) that these Monkeys will bite you if they are agitated and you get close enough to them. We were also told not to have anything hanging loosely off our clothing, as this would prompt them to try and grab it. While we all took the advice on board, one lad didn't and swiftly had one of his expensive walking boots (and sock) taken by one of the monkeys. Can't say he wasn't warned. A guide managed to retrieve the boot later on, but the sock was the monkey's now!

As we hung around on the beach watching them, 2 Monkeys got into a little disagreement, which then resulted in one of them chasing after me and then Jakob. I ran towards a hill and Jakob ran towards the water. They are quite small but I didn't want to get bitten. It was a mix of terrifying and hilarious (more terrifying - you should have seen the look on the monkey's face. He wasn't happy).

The 2 of us then whimped out on the beach for a while just watching them. We had tried to climb the hill at one point but were then confronted by 5 of them so thought better off it (we did manage it later though). Was really funny. Later on, another Monkey swiped a full can of coke from another tourist. It hadn't even been opened but he managed to make holes in the side and drink the whole thing. It was quality to watch and they had calmed down a bit so we were able to get pretty close this time (some great photos and videos). At one point, his mate wanted some of it but was swiftly hissed away. He did get a cookie from someone else later though. Was great to watch them at work and that alone made the trip well worth it.

Got the boat back to Cat Ba and back to our (nice) hotel. Settled down for dinner with everyone else and told them all about the monkey business and how they had missed out. That evening, went out for a few beers with Miriam, Jakob, Jay, Mitja and Sebastian in the local town. I've drunk SO much Beer since I've been away :)

Day 3: The long trip back to Hanoi. Had breakfast and then got the bus back to the boat, which would take us on a different route through the bay and back to Halong City. This was one of the advantages of this tour as it meant we didn't just go the same way there and back. Halong Bay was just as breathtaking on the way back and we had a rare glimpse of sunshine to go with it this time. All chilled out on the roof back to the bay. Then it was lunch and the 4 hour bus journey back to Hanoi.

When we got back to Hanoi, we all went our seperate ways as were going to different parts of Vietnam. Was a real shame to leave them all and that's one of the hardest things about travelling alone sometimes. You spend 3/4 days with a group and get close and then you part again. That's part of the adventure though and you know there's loads more people to meet along the way so it's all good. They are all heading south in Vietnam as well though so I've no doubt we will cross paths again before the country is finished. I hope so.

Halong Bay has definately been the highlight of the trip for me so far. If you come to this part of Asia, you have to see it. Fantastic scenery. Rich - spectacular is correct my man. I loved every minute of this trip - great people, great laughs and a superb place to share it all.

Everyone else is heading south, which I will be too in a couple of days. Next for me though is ...........