How long to Ha Long?

Up for a 7 am breakfast, I really needed that egg sandwich to last me to Halong Bay. The mini-bus (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. Ausie and Lauren and I are off.

"Mr. Victory, how long?" was about all the English he understood, although he was sweet enough to try as he stopped on the side of the road to get Lauren a cold coke. Funny enough, she had asked him to stop for a coconut which was served with the top chopped off for full enjoyment of trhe milk. Coke / coconut. Close. Surely he made a better effort with Enghlish than our butchered version of Vietnamese pronunciation.

Once in Halong, we boarded the Junk boat. No that doesn't carry junk. It's an old Chinese boat with beautifuyl sails. Its laquered wood, pristine linens, carved details, English speaking staff and the most amazing sun deck rowed with chaise lounges stunned the 3 of us. As we quietly sailed through 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 only thing I can remember from that first day is the nonstop eating fest. Praying mantis prawns, rice, cucumber salad, grilled squid, curry chicken...I could go on, but the food coma has blurred my memory. No sooner was the lunch cleanid up , then dinner was on. (Just like any cruise you know). The sun set thourough the karsts and as we sat on top of the boat, star gazing, sleep brought us to our rooms.