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Today we set out from Nam Sach at 9am to get to the ferry terminal for 2.45pm. We had about 60k to make. We were unsure which road we were on but the locals pointed us in the general direction- East. We stopped for breakfast about 10k into our journey at a roadside cafe- pho again (noodle soup). We then pressed east on the highway, this seems to be the quickest way without all the map stops at every junction. We made it to Hai Phong by 12.30 we had made good time, although we did not know there the ferry terminal was. There was a name on the map for the furthest point east, so we headed for it -Dinh Vu. We cycled and cycled. We seemed to be leaving the city and heading for an industrial freight terminal. Unsure wether to proceed we asked and seemed to be going in the right direction. Eventually after abouts 20k we arrived at a ferry terminal- not the one we were expecting, paid our 6000VND about 21p! We waited about an hr for the ferry expecting to be taken to Cat Ba. We seemed to be very amusing to the locals. They were pointing and laughing for some reason? The ferry landed- we weren't on Cat Ba, we were on the smaller Cat Hai. Having already cycled 75k, cycled 7k across the island to another ferry terminal to take us to Cat Ba, relieved to see some of the vehicles from the first boat queuing for the 2nd. We paid 4000VND to make this crossing, again on a small barge type boat. We arrived at a tiny terminal with few signs of life, having been told there was a 27k ride to the town, relieved to see a bus waiting at the terminal as the light was fading. No sooner had we spotted the bus it pulled way! We disembarked on to Cat Ba, although it we weren't 100%sure this was Cat Ba, we began to cycle, the island looked to mountainous but it was difficult to tell in the dim light and heavy haze. We made it about 500m down the road and saw a bus coming towards us, we flagged it down and he indicated for us to return to the terminal, suddenly Our leaden legs were full of life!! We boarded the bus with our bikes again much to the amusement of the locals!! Our relief and pleasure increased as the bus began to climb up one of said mountains for about 3k! After about 25mins the bus stopped and the driver indicated for us to stay put for 5mins. Another bus arrived and some western looking people jumped off- only the group of 5 auzzies we had been sharing a room with back in Hanoi! Pleased to be swapping stories of how we had all been ripped off in one way or another the bus continued to the main town. Very touristy but we were so exhausted we didn't care! Plenty of good priced hotels and places to eat! It was 7.30pm we had eaten our only meal of the day at 10.30am...... Starving!!
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Laura Mackie Hahaha! Sounds like you guys are having an awesome time!!! xxx
JOHN NICHOLLS Happy new year. year of the rabbit. bet your legs are tired.