This morning we are first woken up while it is still dark by the loudest claps of thunder, the sky alight with lightning and pouring rain. It's very spectacular but as it is still dark it's easy to drift back to sleep.
By 6.20 am, the rain has gone and we join the Tai Chi class on the sun deck. Interesting!
Coffee and pastries are available for the early risers and then a full buffet breakfast follows at 8.30. While we are getting ready in our room, there are women in Sampans out side our windows selling anything from water to beer to strands of pearls, Pringles and Oreos. The get your attention then you start to barter. Some one on the next level was getting involved and we saw a strand of pearls sent up in a small net on the end of a bamboo pole and then the net was pulled back with the money in it. Shop at home Vietnam style!
Today we transfer to our day cruise, a similar boat but without the sleeping quarters. We cruise around the huge limestone formations until we come to a fishing village. Here we transfer to local row boats and are taken to where the children go to school on the bay, a floating classroom and a museum of sorts that shows the fishing villages through the years. It's hard to believe that people still live entirely on the water and the children go through to high school with in the village. Because the bay is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, the government are moving some of the fishermen off the water and giving them land for farming and housing but because all they have known is fishing it's a difficult transition.
Next stop is a pearl farm where we have a demonstration of how a cultured pearl is created and harvested. No wonder pearls are so expensive! It's very labour intensive.
Back in our row boat and we go through some caves and around the islets before returning to the pontoon and then the tender back to the day boat for lunch.
The menu for lunch includes mushroom soup, scallops, fish, chicken and fresh fruit. No one actually thought we would get all of those dishes. The food was all fresh and beautifully presented but was way too much.
Luckily after lunch we go to a sandy beach where we kayak to the shore, walk up some steps to a limestone cave and then come back down for a swim. Because we are so hot, the water feels refreshing and it's very calm so just floating around for an hour or so is very relaxing.
We kayak back to our boat and settle in for the hour or so trip back to the main boat. The sun is very hot but the breeze in the shade on the top deck makes the trip very pleasant. The scenery is breathtaking.
Back on the main boat we have a welcome shower to refresh and then it's 2 for 1 happy hour.
Our group of 10 has become 14 and we will all be together for the next cruise on the Mekong.
Tonight as the sun sets the sky's open up and it pours. It's a beautiful sight and we are very lucky to witness a different view of the islands through the rain. It's very still and calm and is a momentary welcome relief from the humidity.
Some passengers are only on the boat for 1 night so some have left and they have been replaced by a group of Taiwanese. Apparently it's a work group on their annual trip and they are loud. They have brought their own brew on board, some sort of rice wine and I think it's some seriously good stuff because come dinner time they are all very happy.
Our dinner tonight consists of 6 courses, all small tastings. We begin with foie-gras followed by lobster bisque, salmon, steak, fresh fruit and coffee cake. I couldn't believe the amount of food but it was so nice. I shared my steak with Glenn but powered through the rest.!
It's been a great day and we still have one more adventure in the morning before we leave Halong Bay.