Just got back from a 3 day boat trip around Halong bay. Magical place. The sun may have been a bit shy, but the mist and rain just made it all the more interesting. It was like something out of Apocalypse Now. Especially when we were driven out to the middle of nowhere, put onto a dodgy old boat, to be taken out to see some dark damp caves, via a little jungle trek. All we needed were M16's, and a top quality soundtrack to complete the picture.
The trip was fantastic, made even more special by our fellow soldiers. There were 14 of us in total, 10 being Aussies. Needless to say we got bang on it. We started drinking in the early afternoon on the first day, and finished sometime 3 days later. Great trip!
One of the funniest things I have, or will ever see, is one of the Aussies teenage sons get mugged by a pissed up monkey, and go running away into the sea, fully clothed, along with his terrified old man, as a gang of monkeys took offence to them trying to get their stuff back. Hilarious!
We witnessed a community living a life so far from western ideals it blows my mind. A floating village. Hundreds of houses, spanning what must have been a good square mile or more, just bobbing around in the water, each with a little fish farm attached. A different world. Still had loads of pet dogs mooching around though.
Two words that got massively over used on our tour of Nam are; interesting, and experience. It has certainly been both. Have had a great couple of weeks, but looking forward to getting back to Bangkok. That crazy monster is going to be a walk in the park after this place.
Much love
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