Day Thirteen - Return to Halong Terminal and Reality

We've successfully returned to the departure/arrival terminal. We've made new friends and enjoyed the boat trip a lot. Martha is ready for a long walk on something other than a boat deck.

Martha's Notes:

The ride back to Hanoi was a little scary.  There was a lot of traffic, not only the scooters we were used to seeing by now, but bicycles, carts, buses, semis, dump trucks, and cars.  All were weaving in and out, trying to go faster in a slowed-down mess of traffic.  Chuck wore out the brake he didn't have.

Vital Statistics

Date - Wednesday, September 30
High Temperature - 93 degrees, Heat Factor - 102 degrees

Day Eleven - Arrival at Halong Bay

We finally arrived at Halong Bay at 13:20 (local). We are now in the passenger terminal waiting to board our junk. I am looking forward to relaxing with an umbrella drink on deck.

The photo below was our only image of the Bay as we approached by car.

Martha's Notes:

We finally got on board the boat about 1:30 or 2 pm, and cruised into the bay for a couple of hours.  We anchored around 4 for the night and Chuck and I joined in the kayak adventure with the rest of the passengers.  We had a little difficulty, as we've never kayaked together.  But we made it.  Sadly, Chuck got his foot caught trying to get out of the kayak and onto a ladder back onto the boat.  He twisted his knee, adding one more injury to his list.  

We had dinner and drinks after the kayaking.  Our dinner included morning glory salad with chicken, oyster cakes, boiled shrimp, steamed rice, noodles, clams and fish.  After dinner, we had drinks and visited with the other passengers.  I think Chuck really enjoyed having people who speak English around, so he could share some of our stories from the trip.

The other passengers on the trip are:  a retired couple from Australia who live near the ocean and travel extensively in their "caravan"; two young women from New Zealand, one a teacher and one radiologist, I think; a family of six -- the grandparents live in Australia, and their daughter, her husband and their two children live in Hong Kong- he was a computer guy; a family of four from Australia - the husband was a construction worker and the wife was a nurse; and a couple from Canada who were retired geologists.

It was a little disappointing when they shut down the bar and all the lights and there was nothing to do but go to bed at 10 pm.  We went to sleep quickly, though.  Unfortunately, the beds on the boat were harder than any bed I've ever slept in and I tossed and turned all night trying to get comfortable.

Vital Statistics

Date - Monday, September 28

High Temperature - 93 degrees, Heat Factor- 105 degrees