Halong bay is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world (we've now seen 3!) The bay is made up of around 3000 limestone islands which rise from the emerald green waters in the Gulf on Tonkin. Most of the islands or karsts have caves which we have been able to explore by kayaking.

Halong bay is one of the places on our trip that I am most excited about, we're only on day one of our three day trip and it already has exeeded expectations. There is no other words to describe it here than beautiful. I feel like I have just stepped onto the set of Avatar. You have to come here to see it for yourself to really appreciate its beauty as words do not do it any justice.

We get onto our boat which is called A class and its very swanky. We have a huge dining area with big comfy sofas and a big plamsa TV. Our room is small but perfect, just like it was on the pictures. There is a big deck upstairs with sun loungers, if only we could use them. The weather is the only thing that is putting the teeniest tiniest bit of disappointment on the trip, its pretty muggy at the minute so visibility isnt that great and it isnt particularly hot. But Im deterimined its not going to put any form of downer on the trip.

We start the day on the boat with lunch. First course was a chicken and sweetcorn soup with mixed vegetable and chilli salad. Next up was a plate of mussel type creatures but in bigger shells with lots of jelly on them. Im not sure what they actually were but they were pretty nice. After that a whole tray of prawns, I went to town on those things. The food contines to come to the table and next up is a whole fish, complete with head and its mouth gaping open. More food arrives which was pork in bbq sauce and a chicken stir fry. I think its safe to say we arent going to starve here.

After lunch we head out and do some kayaking around the coves. We kayaked through caves and often had whole coves to ourselves which was lovley as their are quite a few tourists around, however even with the amount of tourists around the bay is still so peaceful.

After kayaking we visit Cua Van floating village. This is a fishing village, people live here in little wooden houses floating on polystyrene cubes. There is even a floating school here with 2 classrooms and 6 pupils.

We return to our boat for the evening, its getting a bit chilly now. We are greeted with complimentary wine and nibbles. There is a cooking demonstration and we are shown how to make spring rolls. Obviously after our Thai cooking class we are professionals at this now.

Dinner is served which is another 100 courses. The people we have been talking to and sitting with here don't like seafood, this is a bonus for us as practically every course is seafood. Its non stop grazing for the next 90 minutes.

I have really enjoyed today, although the weather isn't perfect its hard not to be happy here. Although this trip was a little splurge I feel really lucky to be here.

Day 2-

Our guide walks over to our table at breakfast, the first thing that pops into my head is that hes going to tell us our trip has been cancelled due to bad weather. Instead its much better news, we're getting an upgrade! Our already lovely fancy boat has an engine problem and we are having to move to the next boat, its just a shame that the only boat with rooms available is the $250/2 nights boat...

Today has been a very busy day. Im sitting here on leather sofas sipping on a glass of complimentary red wine ( I dont even like red wine but I want to fit in). I'm writing this from the lounge of our boat. People around us are talking about Picasso's potential as a businessman, we dont fit in at all in our traveller trousers and hoodies.

This morning we get on a smaller boat and are taken to the day and night cave in Cat Ba national park which we are able to explore by kayak again. We are not able to go in a few of the caves here as the tide is high meaning we would probably get stuck! Its still nice floating around the turquoise lagoons and taking in the scenery. The water is so clear you can see everything, I spy a few jellyfish and see coral which I have never seen before. We go through a tiny cave which took us to a pristine little lake, our guide tells us this is called the romantic lake. We spot a small group of the worlds most endangered primate (our guide book says there only 65 in the wild remaining) which is the golden-headed langur. We then spend the next hour exploring the numerous beaches, lakes, and grottos in the amazing limestone hills.

We then visit Titop island, after a short trek to the top you have an incredible view over Halong bay and Halong city. Next stop is Ba Trai Dao (three peaks islet), there are gorgeous natural secluded beaces here. Although the air is not particularly hot, the water is lovely and warm. Its very tempting to go for a swim but with no shower on this smaller boat that has brought us here and the wind we just can't brave it.

After being out in the wind and fresh air for five hours today I am ready for a nap. A few days here just isn't enough to explore all of the islands, you could easily spend a whole year here exploring a different islet every day.

The last bay we visited today was Lan Ha bay. This area is very similar to Hanlong Bay but the added bonus here is the deserted white sand beaches. Not many tourist boats come here and when we pull up we're the only people around. Its gives the bay a very off the beaten track appeal which makes it extra special.

So its back to the boat for dinner, we arrive on the new boat and check into our rooms. Its much bigger than our room last night and we have matching bath robes and slippers! we prance around and take pictures in the robes like we have never seen a dressing gown before. We agree that these are a nessasity for the future.

After dinner I can't fight the fresh air any longer and all I can think about it sleep. As I am probably not going to stay in a place as nice as this for the rest of the trip I make the most of the situation and have a pamper session. I've just spent 45 minutes blowdrying my hair, I feel like a girl again!

Day 3 -

Today has been non-stop. We made it to the 6.30am thai chi class and it was quite fun, although Tom pinched my imaginery ball of energy and threw it over board, uncool. It was very gap year prancing around on the roof of a boat overlooking one of the natural 7 wonders of the world.

Later that morning we visited " The surprising cave " discovered by the French in 1901, this cave was named surprising as the French were continually surprised when they discovered not 1 but 3 caves, very original. The caves were huuge and it felt like we were walking around on another planet. The limestone walls and stellogmytes and stellotypes along with the added cheesy lighting gave it a very extraterrestrial feel.

After a hectic few days at sea we are happy to have our feet on dry land and once we arrive back in Hanoi at 5.30pm we have half an hour to be at the train station for our 13 hour night train to Hue. We arrive in our cabin and there is an elderly Vietnamese lady with her grandson bawling his eyes out. I grab my netbook and stick on the Lion King for him, he stops crying immedietly and his Grandma gives me a grateful smile. We try our best to have a conversation with the boy and his Grandma, it turns into us drawing pictures to each other and sharing sweets. His name was Phi Hung and by the end of the 13 hour journey we were chatting and laughing away. When its our time to get off the train he gives us a little hand shake and we exchange sweets once more. He was super cute.