Do they make the summit?

2km of uphill in the middle of Cat Ba island.  Do they make it?  You’ll have to watch to find out.

The real fresh food people

I have been a bit quiet on the food front lately, because I haven’t really been eating much but rice. Bit of a tummy bug. But today I am back in the game and just in time for a seafood lunch on board our cruise through Ha Long Bay.

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UNESCO World Heritage Site Ha Long Bay

 

Ha Long bay by simmogem, on Flickr

A day off the bikes, Hurrah! Today we boarded our very own Junk boat to cruise Ha Long bay.  I’m not joking about that either, a boat capable of easily carrying 30 or more people had just Gemma and I, our guide Hoang and the crew . Ridiculous.

Cycling, Day Six

Tuan Chau Island port by simmogem, on Flickr

Poor Simon didn’t stand a chance today when Huang told us we were going to Ha Long and our first stop was a pearl factory. Pearls are my favourite, and whilst Simon has already bought me a string of them and a bracelet to match, you can’t have too many – right.

What's for dinner?

One of the highlights of today was coming across this group of boys catching large mice (or are they rats) along the side of the road as we went passed.

Cycling, Day four

Tam Coc first cave by simmogem, on Flickr

Today was thankfully a bit more relaxing, starting with a one and a half hour boat ride through Tam Coc, sometimes called inland Halon Bay.  The river system snakes between, and under, limestone mountains, and our trip took us through three low lying caves. Our guides where a husband and wife team who row tourists along the river five days a week.

Riddle me this?

Cuc Phuong sign by simmogem, on Flickr

An interesting little tid bit from our day in the National Park.  The signage within the park is very creative and often in the form of a riddle.

Cycling, Day three

Primate Rescue Centre by simmogem, on Flickr

Yesterday Gemma seemed a little upset when we pulled up for a rest stop and exclaimed to me through gasping breath “you’re not even puffing”, well I hope she’s happy now because today was a bit of a slog.

Cycling, Day two

Short stop by simmogem, on Flickr

Before jumping on the bikes today, we drove back over the mountains we had come over yesterday to a junction in the road about an hour and a half from where we stayed.

One for the foodies

Vietnamese Lunch by simmogem, on Flickr

How many spring rolls can a foodie eat, so far I am up to about twenty!

They are delicious, way better than any I have had in Sydney, including my regular Surry Hills Vietnamese haunt.