Up at 6am again and I made my way up to the top deck for the morning session of Tai chi. Unfortunately it was cold and drizzling up there so the exercise had been moved into the reception area which was a bit narrow for the amount of people who had braved the early start.
Our Tai chi master (who incidentally had been providing the previous nights entertainment) persisted a while with teaching the assembled passengers, until all the Iranians turned up and there just wasn’t enough room for everyone.
A quick change to yoga was made and we were all soon standing on one leg and then painfully ‘stretching out our knees’, which actually meant stretching out our calves and or thighs.
Although it was all a bit of a shamozzle, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and then Ali (the ‘birthday boy’ Iranian) was there taking our group photos with his phone.
Although it was all a bit of a shamozzle, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and then Ali (the ‘birthday boy’ Iranian) was there taking our group photos with his phone.
7.00 and it was time for the buffet breakfast and then those who wished to could go for a bit of a kayak around the bay. Due to the amount of boat traffic in the area, and not wanting to get wet, we declined the offer and relaxed in the cabin instead.
I saw one man blindly paddle his kayak right in front of a departing boat until it blasted him with its horn.
I took some more photos and a couple of videos of the boat exodus from the bay to the docks and then it was time for the buffet brunch and our own return to dock. We said goodbye to all the staff and they waved as we motored away from the main boat. Even with the dismal weather it was still a pleasant voyage and the scenery couldn’t be faulted.
It is a designated world heritage area and definitely deserves the title. It was a bit sad to see the impact that so much boat traffic is having on the environment though. There was a definite oil slick on the surface of the water and a lot of rubbish floating around. It must be difficult for the few local fishermen that are trying to make a living from fishing the bay.
It is a designated world heritage area and definitely deserves the title. It was a bit sad to see the impact that so much boat traffic is having on the environment though. There was a definite oil slick on the surface of the water and a lot of rubbish floating around. It must be difficult for the few local fishermen that are trying to make a living from fishing the bay.
Leaving the boat the usual organised chaos ensued and we were all hustled into the tender boat and after a brief journey, deposited back on the dock for our 2 and a half hour return to Hanoi.
We had a comfort stop at one of the large truck stops along the highway where I managed to decipher some hard lollies among the strange products in the mini mart, and then it was back on the road and through the incessant traffic woes back to our hotel.
They have given us an upgrade this time to a room which is identical to our previous room except it is on the 6th floor instead of the 3rd. Not sure what the ‘upgrade’ is apart from having to travel further in the lift.
It’s another very early start tomorrow morning as we leave for the airport for our flight to Hoi An.
I’m hoping that it will be a bit quieter there and we will be able to walk around the old city without being splattered on the footpath.
Jill D
2023-03-27
I loved Halong Bay. Looks like you had a great visit x