How long to HaLong? Day1: Up for a 7am breakfast I really needed that egg sandwich to last me to Halong Bay. The minibus (a van for those of you back home) was driven by Mr. Victory, who's real name escapes me, but translated we're told it means Victory. "Mr. Victory, how long?" was about all the English he understood, although was sweet enough to try as he stopped on the side of the road to get Lauren a cold coke. Funny enough, she has asked him to stop for a coconut, which was served with the top chopped off for full enjoyment of the milk. Coke--coconut...close!!! Surely he made a better effort w/ English than our butcherd version of Vietnamese. Once in Halong, we boarded the boat with its laquered wood, pristine linens, carved details and English speaking staff and the most amazing sun deck rowed with chaise lounges. As we quietly sailed throgh the calm waters, the limestone karsts, speakled the way, protruding as if they were a sunken mountain range. Almost egg shaped, each karst looked like the next but distinctively different. As they say here: "Same same". only different. The people in Halong have crated a lifestyle build aound the protection of the lagoons. Floating villiages are assembled from small shcaks buildt on platformst supported by plastick drums. They are tied up to the karsts so that they donb't drift away. These amazingly brilliant people have not given into a lifestyle of seculustion as might be expcted by their crue and simple homes. They have cell phones, and even satalinte TV and radio systems to entertain themselves as they lay in their hammocks swinging gently over the water.