Ha Long Bay & Check In to Sa Pa Update

All safe and sound if not a little stinky and clammy.

We are having a lot of fun and new experiences. I was quite stunned to be told by one of our co-travellers with whom we shared a sleeper on the train that I was actually back packing only with a suitcase. This is not what I had signed up for. This morning I was also told that their parents would not be doing what Ted & I are doing. Way to go - we are still young at heart however Ted keeps saying.

So the story.

We took a Junk around Ha Long Bay - very interesting. They are trying to have it voted as a wonder of the world. They would need to clean the rubbish floating in certain areas though. We stopped at a fishing village which is actually a floating village from which we took a kayak and kayaked around the bay for 45 minutes. We slept on the junk - ac was controlled by the captain so that meant he decided at what time it started and stopped same as the water for the shower. No problemo we sailed through the experience.

We are the oldest couple on all the tours we are taking. I would say the average age is 29. Next thing I have to learn is Face Book as they all communicate that way. Anyway I now have a contact for an apartment in Turkey - it was even offered to us for free - will look into that.

We then stopped at Cat Ba island where we were forced into 2 hour trek before checking into the hotel. We figured it would be an easy walk in the national park considering the tour package. What a surprise. I would rate it as a difficult trek. The paths were muddy, slippery, steep - my pale running shoes turned orange from the bauxite looking earth. We mumbled all the way as to the sanity of the trek especially when the guide disappeared and I was left leading a bunch of tourists not knowing where to go. Anyway we survived and have stories to tell. Like Ted slipping nearly on his a.. If it had not been for some nice young PhDers (Engineers - not Religious Study types) he would have slid all the way down. Needless to say we were dirty, hot and irritated by the time we got down. Next to the hotel. We decided to go for a walk to the beach - after 10 minutes we came back as it was way too hot. So we plopped on the bed and watched Rambo. Later we went for a swim at a beautiful beach, had a local beer ($1 for 500ml). Then back to our room were we sipped on Vang Da Lat (red wine from Da Lat VN) while getting ready for dinner.

Meals are communal. That means you share the table and the food with strangers. We had the opportunity to sit with a couple from Ho Chi Minh City. Although we could not communicate we had an interesting education on how to eat the dishes in front of us.

On the way back to Ha Noi for our next excursion our tour guide was kidnapped by a Israeli and an asian couple. The bus driver took off and left him. I was so upset as he was the best guide we had and we weren't able to tip him. Anyway after a few hassles at the tour agency office who didn't give a s--- about the guide, we took a bus to the station to take our deluxe tour to Sa Pa. On the bus we met some brits who convinced us to buy some silk sleeping bags for bug protection.

Well on the train we get. It was a 4 birth compartment. I thought we were to have our own bathroom. No such luck we had a toilet for the whole wagon. Good job too that we had our sleeping bags. Then in come the Israeli couple who kidnapped our guide. We learned this as we had a great conversation sharing each other experiences.

Now we are in Sa Pa - We arrived at 5 a.m. after an 8 hour trip. It is pouring rain. We have been fed and are awaiting our rooms. The view is magnificent. Great for photo shoots. Wish you were here Gilles!

Time to check out before this becomes a saga. Oh yes, the Viet Namese find Ted fascinating!!! You'll have to ask him why yourselves if you are curious as I'm sworn to secrecy.