Just to update you on our last couple of days in 'Nam...we went on a nice boat like the one in the picture (without the sails up though) and sailed around Halong Bay like they did on the Top Gear Special...the end.

Ok, maybe a little more detail!! We were a bit dubious about who to book our trip through as there are many operators running boat trips in Halong Bay and they all look the same, btu we booked through our guesthouse and it was very nice! It is about a 3 hour drive from Hanoi, when we arrived at the port it was crazy, people everywhere! And sooo many boats...it was hard to keep up with our guide as he weaved off towards our vessel!!

Anyway we were soon aboard and it was good as our group was only small, there were only 11 of us and about that many staff on the boat!! We set sail and soon most of the other boats had gone off in different directions, after all it is a big bay so plenty of room for all the boats! The scenery is really stunning, even though it was a grey day it was still lovely, huge rocks sticking out of the sea all over the place for as far as you can see.

Sadly it was raining for most of our first day, but we visited some very impressive caves and also a small island, where Nick and most of the others climbed the 400 plus steps to the top for a good view, whereas I sat on the beach under an umbrella!! Everyone in our tour group was very friendly and we spent most of the trip with a group of 5 Canadian/Americans...they didn't even mind when I asked them what it was all 'aboot'!! (South Park movie reference for all those with blank expressions...)

On the second day we went kayaking which was fun although the rest of our group had clearly forgotten to mention they were kayaking olympic gold medallists...as they all shot off and me and Nick were left somewhat trailing, it is hard work!! We caught up eventually and went into a cave where we watched some monkeys for a bit...slightly random having monkeys living on an island out in the middle of nothing, but the cynic in me thinks they may have been introduced for the pleasure of tourists like us!!

We really enjoyed our couple of days 'at sea'...even if I did slip on the wet stairs and fall down them, resulting in some rather impressive bruises and a sore shoulder for a day or so!! Ouch!! Then we were back to Hanoi (rather annoyingly they decided to cram another tour group in with us as their bus had vanished somehow, so the ride back was rather cramped!!)

Another evening in Hanoi and then we were off to the airport for a flight to Bangkok...but Nick will tell you more about this!!

xxx