Thursday started early as we got picked up from our hotel to start our 3 day tour. A 3 hour journey with a pit stop at the workshop of handicapped children (i think they must keep them in the back making stuff to sell because i didn't see any) - a highlight of any trip. On arrival at the port we waited for our ship as it pushed it's way inbetween 2 other boats, there's no messing about in Vietnam. On our journey we took in some spectacular views of the tree covered limestone islands, although the weather was chilly out here we sat at the front taking in the sights. We then went to visit some caves, the view of the bay from the caves was beautiful as several ships were anchored on the emerald green water. The highlight of the caves was a rock pertruding from a wall that formed a somewhat phalic shape (it also happened to be highlighted by a red light) the guide then pointed us to the hole in the roof. I think we all know what that means It was then a visit to a small island beach where most of the passengers head up to the peak but me, ben and dave decided to stay on the beach and play hacky sack - then we stole the pictures from the top from Dana (saved the walking). We spent the night on the boat drinking and playing card games, the alcohol we bought from the strange women that row up to the boats from the water villages and sell items to tourists. Playing cards we met an Australian woman we dubbed Gin Rummy (duew to her love of the card game) - she forced us to play even though we were making it quite clear we didn't want to. She also tried to show us a card trick that didn't work twice - according to her we weren't concentrating hard enough which made us morons. A sunrise start the next day and a visit to a water village where the kids were at school and we borrowed some kayaks to see the islands more closely. Here we had the best view i've ever seen in a small valley only accessible by kayak. The emerald green water is beautiful! After this it was time for lunch on a beach where our group were the only people there. It was at this place we saw a beached whale (A very overweight French woman with her stomach hanging out snoring on the beach - the sight will haunt me to the end of my days). We also killed a clam type creature by prying it open with my pen knife however we felt bad afterwards so we named him Edward and had a small ceremony, it was a sad day for all involved. In the evening we hit Cat Ba island we had dinner where i got 7 shots of rice wine because no one else liked it and then hit a bar. The evening consisted of copius alcohol including snake whisky (whisky with a dead snake in the bottle), it's supposed to be good for a man! As well as playing pool and table football. In the morning it was time to get up and head back to Hanoi then onto Hoi An.