Monday, March 25th
I was up early as Captain said it was beautiful sailing into Ha Long Bay. It was just after daylight that I went out on our balcony and what I saw was incredible. Somehow I missed seeing this back in 2010. I was taking photos, showering, and having breakfast from room service all at the same time. I also called mom & dad back in Illinois. Mom said it was snowing! We had to meet for our first tour at 8:55. We made sure to get on the same tour bus as our friends, Joe & Allison, from Galveston. They were also at our table last night hosted by Franck, our General Manager. The bus took us to a dock about 15 minute drive from the ship where we boarded little wooden boats that held about 20 people. Then we headed out to get up close and personal with the giant limestone rocks/small islands projecting straight up out of the water. There are nearly 2000 of these. We have two days at sea next so will post the photos tomorrow, I hope. I took 171 photos today but will not bore you with all of them. We cruised around the monoliths for about 3 hours. It was one of the best excursions I have ever taken (and I have taken a bunch!) It was about 80 degrees so very nice with the moving boat to provide a breeze.
After a bite of lunch we were off again on another tour. This one was of the countryside. We headed down same road that lead to Hanoi for just over an hour. They were in process of widening the road but so far it is only a two lane highway. It was packed with mostly big trucks and hundreds of motor bikes. Not many cars as the Vietnamese cannot afford them. So everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, has at least one motor bike. The first of two stops on this excursion was at the Yen Tu Monastery. Although we did not see but a couple monks, there are quite a few living here. We saw some Buddhas, of course! The gardens were very nice. Our next stop was at a local farmer's house. He was older gentleman who greeted everyone of us with a hardy hand shake and big smile. We were served small baked sweet potatoes, which is apparently one of the farmers staples, and hot tea. Rebecca had a sweet potato but I passed. I had actually bought a Vietnamese beer at the monastery. I have to taste the local beers of the countries I visit for my old high school friend, John Bones. Anyway, we got to go inside the small, very meager house. By the way, the pig pen was right next to the house.
We headed back to the ship which was just over an hour's drive. I must say that most of the Vietnamese are still very poor but seem happy. It is a filthy place! They do not clean up around their houses or the streets of the villages. The farmers have no machinery. They still use water buffalo to plow the fields. There are no large farms. They only own small plots that will feed their families. Rice and vegetables are grown around here. It is still decades behind the rest of the world. What a shame, as it is a beautiful country. Where we docked, American and Japanese companies are investing in industry now. Labor is plentiful and VERY cheap here. Unemployment is high. Visiting Vietnam makes you really appreciative of what we have in the States.
As we toured all day I quickly wrote this while getting ready for dinner. I have not proof read this so apologize for the errors in grammar. Mrs Long, my high school English teacher, may change my grade for her class. Lots more tomorrow.
Photos on tomorrow's posting.
I was up early as Captain said it was beautiful sailing into Ha Long Bay. It was just after daylight that I went out on our balcony and what I saw was incredible. Somehow I missed seeing this back in 2010. I was taking photos, showering, and having breakfast from room service all at the same time. I also called mom & dad back in Illinois. Mom said it was snowing! We had to meet for our first tour at 8:55. We made sure to get on the same tour bus as our friends, Joe & Allison, from Galveston. They were also at our table last night hosted by Franck, our General Manager. The bus took us to a dock about 15 minute drive from the ship where we boarded little wooden boats that held about 20 people. Then we headed out to get up close and personal with the giant limestone rocks/small islands projecting straight up out of the water. There are nearly 2000 of these. We have two days at sea next so will post the photos tomorrow, I hope. I took 171 photos today but will not bore you with all of them. We cruised around the monoliths for about 3 hours. It was one of the best excursions I have ever taken (and I have taken a bunch!) It was about 80 degrees so very nice with the moving boat to provide a breeze.
After a bite of lunch we were off again on another tour. This one was of the countryside. We headed down same road that lead to Hanoi for just over an hour. They were in process of widening the road but so far it is only a two lane highway. It was packed with mostly big trucks and hundreds of motor bikes. Not many cars as the Vietnamese cannot afford them. So everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, has at least one motor bike. The first of two stops on this excursion was at the Yen Tu Monastery. Although we did not see but a couple monks, there are quite a few living here. We saw some Buddhas, of course! The gardens were very nice. Our next stop was at a local farmer's house. He was older gentleman who greeted everyone of us with a hardy hand shake and big smile. We were served small baked sweet potatoes, which is apparently one of the farmers staples, and hot tea. Rebecca had a sweet potato but I passed. I had actually bought a Vietnamese beer at the monastery. I have to taste the local beers of the countries I visit for my old high school friend, John Bones. Anyway, we got to go inside the small, very meager house. By the way, the pig pen was right next to the house.
We headed back to the ship which was just over an hour's drive. I must say that most of the Vietnamese are still very poor but seem happy. It is a filthy place! They do not clean up around their houses or the streets of the villages. The farmers have no machinery. They still use water buffalo to plow the fields. There are no large farms. They only own small plots that will feed their families. Rice and vegetables are grown around here. It is still decades behind the rest of the world. What a shame, as it is a beautiful country. Where we docked, American and Japanese companies are investing in industry now. Labor is plentiful and VERY cheap here. Unemployment is high. Visiting Vietnam makes you really appreciative of what we have in the States.
As we toured all day I quickly wrote this while getting ready for dinner. I have not proof read this so apologize for the errors in grammar. Mrs Long, my high school English teacher, may change my grade for her class. Lots more tomorrow.
Photos on tomorrow's posting.
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