Getting up early, we caught a bus to Halong Bay. We organised a tour through the hostel for 55 dollars and believe me it was well worth it.

Actually in the bay on a junk boat we saw dramatic cliffs rising out of the sea, with its own jungle, our own junk boat weaving in and out of other ones. It actually looks like paradise.

Brett: It was a nice short 3 hours ride to the habour then a short wait for the junk boat. Our guide, while enthusiastic, didn't have great english but he did try to enlighten us a little on the way.On the boat there were 9 English folks, a family of 4 Dutch folk and a french couple.

Firstly we went in a cave. The cave was gigantic! It was the size of an opera house or to be coarser the size of Barnsley's Asda (bigger!!!). Stupidly, we now felt we are seeing the world. any city is a city but this is amazing.

The activities were wonderful. We went swimming in the sea, jumping from the top of our boat and just enjoying being in a place that seems otherworldly. We then went in kayaks around the bay, discoving caves and beaches on the tiny islands. The kayaks were from a floating fishing village, where people actually lived and worked. There was a snooker table to keep themselves busy. To actually get to the kayaks we had to step atound little pools full of squids or baby sharks. It was slightly scary due to the planks of wood that bent or weren't balanced correctly.

On the boat we talked to lovely people and at night it was so fun just being there and playing games like s***head and cheat. Glorious eh?

Brett: It really did feel like a little peice of paradise. Sitting on the open air top deck of the boat at 9pm playing cards looking over the bay with hundreds of little lights of junk boats. It was absolutely amazing. I'm glad I've convinced Tom that the more remote places are more fun than cities ;)