Ha Long Bay 1

On Thursday morning we had a quick breakfast before we would start our day. My OCD was tested again at breakfast as my malaria pill fell of Patti's hand not once but twice and rolled swiftly across the floor of the dining area.

After eggs and Dragon Fruit we boarded a mini bus from our posh :-) Camel City Hotel digs to Halong bay for our cruise ship experience. Having never been on a cruise ship I was looking forward to this. This does not qualify as the Pacific Princes you are imagining, this one only only 11 rooms. I was all excited until Patti told me that last year one of these sunk and many of the passengers said goodbye to this life. God willing, that will not be repeated anytime soon.

Years ago Patti and I spent a few nights on a 0 room cruise ship on the Nile River in Egypt. It was just a few pieces of foam covered with some old bed sheets on a traditional Egyptian sailing boat called a Felluca. It was like camping with no tent on the water and was in reality a very interesting way to see some of Egypt

Our ship, the Dragon Pearl III, turned out to most likely be the finest accommodations we will have on our excursion. It cruises Ha Long Bay which is home to almost 2000 islands. These islands are primarily limestone many of which have caves that were once home to people who had fled the war with the French.

Even though the weather and visibility could have been better, the views were still something to take in.

Patti and Riley kicking back down yonder.

The girls instantly took to their room and loved the silk robes and made themselves right at home.

It was off to a private island beach for some kayaking and playing in the sand. As we climbed into our boats our guide was concerned about Tara and Riley paddling their own boat and that they might tire to quickly to complete the route. She does not know our girls. We do. So Patti used the lame duck excuse, "Ouch, I broke my collarbone and I can't paddle." Needless to say, the girls led from the start and hit the beach 300 meters before even the guide.

After the beach we showered up and put on our fancy dinner apparel. What made them fancy was the fact that our shipmates did not know that we had already been in them for the past 36 hours. We try to set a limit at no more than two consecutive days in the same clothes, with the exception being pants, which have a four day maximum.

It was at our first meal on the ship, lunch, when Tara learned that some dreams really do come true. That dream was a nine course lunch meal, followed by a nine course dinner meal. Her Christmas gift is now paid in full. While we were eating, our hostess asked if we were living in Asia because Tara has such great chopstick skills. We informed her that she is only allowed chopsticks so as to slow her down in hopes there will be some food for left us.

We drifted off to sleep as the boat drifted in a sheltered channel among a group of islands.

All Images in the 2014 Ha Long Bay album linked on the right.