Day 28 Halong Bay and Caroline’s 60th!

Tony and driver picked us up early, but we had time for an excellent breakfast first. Long bumpy ride via a stop at a marble, ceramics and silk goods factory.

Arrived at boat dock around midday and boarded out a Bhaya Cruise boat at 12.30 along with a mixed bag of mainly Western tourists. Germans, Geordies, Aussies, French, Chilean, Indian and Japanese!

The boat was nice the bay was outstanding and spectacular, looks similar to the Li river in China with foliage covered limestone islands dotted throughout. There are 1969 islands in Halong Bay. Weather was misty adding an mystical glow.

Our cabin was cute and had an tiny balcony!

Had a buffet lunch and given safety instructions. After lunch we were all given life vests and boarded a little boat for a very short ride to see the ‘Surprise’ caves. Climbed up some windy steep steps and …’surprise’ we were inside some magnificent caves of stalagmites and stalagmites. We were led through the caves, along with throngs of other tour groups including, of course, pushy Chinese! Have to say that the Grottes des demoiselles and Grottes des Clamouse in France were far more impressive, but still we enjoyed the ones in Halong Bay.

Relaxed on the deck watching the scenery go back and enjoying happy hour then sat down for dinner.

John and Tony (our guide) had surreptitiously managed to organize a birthday cake for me which arrived after the main course as the lights dimmed and the staff walked around the dining room with the lit cake singing Happy Birthday. They then stopped at our table and presented the cake while the diners and staff sang! What a lovely moment!

We spent the night in the harbor due to a bad thunderstorm that we both slept through without hearing a sound!