With Brigit and Sophia (Sonya)
Ha Long Bay, March 28, 2013
Farewell to Hong Kong and steam along in a south-westerly direction one day at sea, following the Vietnamese coast. We alter in a north-westerly course towards our next port, Cai Lan, known also as Ha Long Bay.
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| Map of Ha Long Bay |
Ha Long Bay is one of the world's extraordinary scenic wonders. Beautiful beyond belief. This World Heritage Site boasts a calm bay studded with over 3,000 dramatic limestone islands, islets and rock formations in the north east Vietnam.
Since December 14th 1994 Ha Long Bay has been inscribed in the World Heritage list by UNESCO, confirming the exceptional and universal value of this landscape.
For Vietnamese people Ha Long Bay is not only a great landscape bu tit is also a sacred and longstanding symbol of the country. In the Vietnamese people's consciousness, the stone islands in Ha Long Bay are not only limestone but biotic. When the Nation was in danger, Mother dragon and her children landed and stayed forever to defend the country.
Welcome to Ha Long Bay, a remarkable landscape, a warm soul nature area with its history, agony and happiness.
Our day begins with a tranquil local junk cruise to view the limestone islands and rock formations dotting the Bay.
Scenic junk cruise at Ha Long Bay
Our kayak expedition
Meet our guides, who provide kayaks, paddles, safety equipment and a brief orientation. We set out on an approximately 3 hour kayak expedition in the Ba Hang or "Three Caves" section of Halong Bay in Catba National Park.
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| Floating house at fishing village where we board our kayaks |
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| Kitchen inside floating house |
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| Bedroom |
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| Two person sea kayaks |
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Exiting our junk to board a small fishing boat to take us a few yards to floating house
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| We explore caves |
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| We carry lamps to see inside dark cave |
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| More to explore |
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| Emerging from cave into lagoon |
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| We spot monkeys in the trees |
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| More caves to explore |
Views as we continue a scenic cruise at Ha Long
Bay during lunch.
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As we eat lunch as our junk cruises near the Luon Cave fishing village…..
…and past a popular beach.
Our adventure doesn't end here. Nearby are Thien Cung & Go Dao caves, easily accessed in Ha Long Bay. The interior feature immense domed ceiling and elaborate and boldly colored stalagmites and stalactites.
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| Cave opening up high on the cliff side |
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| Hike up to cave opening |
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| Vietnam marketplace at top near cave opening |
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| Note scale of people compared to huge cave interior |
Views as we emerge from the caves
Some last minute shopping opportunities
At the end of a wonderful day we thank our Vietnamese host and give him a
crystal heart in the name of peace and love
We offer dollar bills, chocolates, soaps and shampoo to the Vietnamese people
We bid farewell to Ha Long Bay and it's people. We set course for two days at sea to Ho Chi Minh City (Formerly Saigon), Vietnam.
Thank you for sharing this extraordinary journey with us.
We'll talk to you soon.
Love & Blessings,
Brigit & Sophia
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