For the weekend we went away to Cat Ba Island (an island pretty much in Halong Bay). We left on the friday afternoon and caught a bus to Haiphong. When we got there we found out that the last boat over to the island is around middayish, so it turned out that we would be spending a night there. Not too bad but there is really anything there, and even when we went to the lonely planet recommended places it didnt get any better. Literally what was LP thinking??

An early rise the following morning to catch a cab over to the ferry (the ride was about a minute and we could definately have walked it in the same time it took for us to catch it in the first place). We were dropped at a place where they tried to sell us the tickets for 200,000 dong, but when we walked the 50m down the road to where the boats actually leave from, the lady followed us and dropped the price to 150,000 immediately.

Once on the island we found some little wooden hhuts on a secluded beach where we were almost the only people there. Lay on the beach for a bit and saw the sky and the sun- AMAZING. We later went on a trek in the centre of the island which is national park. It was awesome though alot of sharp and lethal rocks did slow us down somewhat.

Next day and another early morning to catch a boat out into some bay that apparently looks alot like halong bay. There we kayaked for a few hours which was amazing and so peaceful though tough on my arms!

When it came to getting back we were a little bit stranded as the island had no power and with just less than $2 between the four of us we couldnt get any money from an atm or pay for the kayaking we'd just done or for a bus ticket. Luckily the guy who'd taken us kayaking was also heading back to hanoi so bought us our tickets, and we used the last of our money to buy oreos. (payed him back once we got to hanoi).

Cycled to work today and have mud up to my armpits! its a good thing today i thought to bring spare clothes to work. oh and my saddle is seriously broken now......