Floating on the Halong Bay!!!!!!!!!!

After a couple of days in Hanoi we have been gathered the crew to start our adventure along the Halong Bay. The team is comprised by Caro “la boluda”, Sandra “la sevi”, James “the Irish”, and of course, us, 2rapitenques around the world. We decided to go for a trip of 3 days and 2 nights around the Halong Bay. The first night to be spent in a boat and the second one in the Cat Ba island.


Try to go to Halong Bay without a tourist pack is impossible!! It is all set up in such a way that it is better (and cheaper) to get a tourist pack with a group of people than trying to do it by yourself. Seriously! It is the only way to visit the place if you don’t want hassle. However, tourist packs mean mass tourism, and, it is not ideal but it is the only way to do it here. In fact, we have seen lots of cases of scams or being cheated by paying some services that eventually people didn’t get.
One thing that we have learned in this country is to be cautious with your money. So if you ever come here please do not pay anything in advance, pay once you come back from the trip. Even doing that, we ended up paying 10% of, apparently, “government taxes” that we discovered later that they didn’t exist. … c’est la vie!


The Halong Bay is made up of more than 3,000 islands emerging from the water. It is considered one of the worldwide heritages by Unesco.The islands are covered by wild vegetation and you can see how the islands have become eroded on their base due to the waves and wind. The legend says that the little islands were created by a dragon that lived in the island long time ago. The wild animal was cutting the island up into pieces when walking wildly towards the coast and he created this magic place.


Our trip started in Hanoi. After 3 hours by bus we arrived to Halong city. A boat was waiting for us to bring us towards the bay. Sailing among the little islands it is very cool and you can see wild beaches, floating fisherman houses and we even visited an amazing cave! After all that we ended up having a dip in the water to handle the heat and humidity of the day! Great fun jumping from the boat JBut that wasn’t the end of the day. After a tasty Vietnamese dinner (seafood, fish, meat, vegetable and lots of rice) our moment of glory arrived J Karaoke!!!!!!!! Yeahhhhhhhh one was saying…”I won’t sing”.. the other..”Came on, just one song” … “no, you go first … all very shy for a few minutes… But after a bit we were all dancing and singing (or maybe shouting and jumping) with no shame! Other groups of people joined us and we started a Karaoke party until late nite! Such a good laugh!! As Caro “la boluda” well said…. We were floating in the Halong Bay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee


The following day we went to Cat Ba Island. This is the only inhabited island of the bay and was declared national park a few years ago. I don’t know who had the idea but we ended up trekking until the very top of the island … nice views but stifling heat!!! Something that we can say of Cat Ba is that it remind us to the Benidorm but in Vietnam…. Huge buildings, restaurants, shops, souvenirs and lots of massive places for leisure. Also, now are the summer school holidays and we could see all the local families there… on the beach , renting motorbikes, walking on the street …. It was funny to see the same as we do but with another scenery. We finished the trip with a small cruise through the East part of the Halong Bay.


We would like to pay tribute to the song “My way” of Frank Sinatra as it has been the song of the trip!! We got a bit carried away singing it in the karaoke!! Sure that not as Sinatra but such a laugh!! Such a song!! Such a moment!!! WE were all identified with the song!! J

Here we go:My way

And now, the end is near; And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, Ill say it clear,Ill state my case, of which Im certain.
Ive lived a life thats full.Ive traveled each and evry highway;
And more, much more than this,I did it my way.
Regrets, Ive had a few;But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to doAnd saw it through without exemption.
I planned each charted course;Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,I did it my way.
Yes, there were times, Im sure you knewWhen I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;And did it my way.Ive loved, Ive laughed and cried.
Ive had my fill; my share of losing.And now, as tears subside,I find it all so amusing.
To think I did all that;And may I say - not in a shy way,No, oh no not me,I did it my way.
For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows -And did it my way!

Check some pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27523343@N06/?saved=1