Final days in Vietnam

Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Halong Bay, Quảng Ninh, Vietnam
Hello loyal readers of this blog,

Lauren and I are filing this final blog report prior to our farewell team dinner next to Hoam Kiem Lake in Hanoi . We have just returned from Halong Bay, a World Heritage Site that features gumdrop islands in the midst of open waters. The islands are covered by forests and their limestone walls rise steeply in such a way to keep them free from inhabitants other than hawks and other birds.

We spent two nights aboard a houseboat with cabin berths featuring hot showers and spectacular views of the bay. In the daytime our boat sliced through some narrow passageways and the impressive scenery constantly changed. The limestone protrusions (or karsts as they are commonly known) are something truly wonderful and left all members of our team in awe of their beauty. On our second day in Halong Bay, we kayaked underneath water passageways linking secluded pools of water. The feeling of gliding underneath rocks through cave-like passageways from one open area of water to another was amazing.  Some caves were so dark that it appeared that there was no outlet on the other side, but stubborn kayakers with headlamps were rewarded with majestic discoveries after snaking through the cavernous walls to the daylight and pools on the other side .

The group also enjoyed swimming in the waters next to the boat and jumping into the water from the boat.  It was great fun even though most locals would say that the water was too cold. We also learned about pearls and how they are produced. On our last night on the houseboat, we recognized the contributions of each team member in our final meeting and had a dance party.

Last night and this afternoon as we were riding back to Halong Bay, I could not stop thinking about how weird it will be to wake up on December 9th and not see anyone from our traveling family anymore. It will certainly be strange and take some getting used to.

Lauren and I have immensely enjoyed serving as the team leaders for our group for the past twelve weeks. Each and every one of the members of our group is a special person and they came together brilliantly as a supportive family.  We could not be more proud and happy to have traveled with such great people!

Everyone grew a tremendous amount on this trip in ways that I do not think will be immediately and fully appreciated . Some changes will be noticed quickly and others will take time to surface. I can guarantee that this trip has been different for each person but all have found it transformative in their own ways.  As close family and friends of the returning traveler, I hope that you will give him or her ample opportunity over the course of time to explain all that we did. Honestly, we met so many people, experienced so many new things, and overcome so many challenges that it will take time to present it all. I also grew and learned as a result of living, working, and traveling with such an amazing group. Lauren and I would like to thank all of the sending families for raising such great adults.

The past three months on the road will lead to deeper changes in attitude, thought, and behaviour.  These experiences in Thailand, India, and Vietnam will undoubtedly serve as a springboard for future adventures, background for discussions in classrooms, and motivation to bring change in the world.  Lauren and I are privileged to have spent time in the close company of these eleven amazing team members. We look forward to hearing about all of their great adventures to come!

Thanks team! Happy holidays! Tim

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2025-02-16

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