Halong Bay makes me wanna stay!!!

Had a lazy night in Hanoi once we arrived. We had to get ready for our boat cruise to Halong Bay the next day. Totally didn't realize that was going to be another 4 hour drive to get there. But it was good got to sleep the entire way and watch "good morning Vietnam" Movies are so much better when u have a clue about what's going on.

We arrived at the docks and had to take a little tinny boat to get to our giant junk boat aka deluxe cruise. It was actually pretty nice. It all started with an interesting lunch. Literally all seafood - not something I normally eat so it was definitely good. We had prawns, clams, crabs, calamari, seaweed and spring rolls. Danielle and I had quite the experience trying to eat these especially since neither of us have eaten prawns with heads before haha. So our new Aussie friends taught us how to rip it off.

After lunch we went to the Halong Bay cave. This has recently become one new 7 wonders of nature. It was amazing. Had to climb up a bunch of stairs to get in the cave. It was about 42 degrees out so stairs in that heat wasnt ideal. But once we got into the cave ---- it was air conditioned!!! Haha not quite but a lot cooler. Pictures below of the cave and the view from the entrance to it.

We then went to the beach and watched people make human pyramids and then played beach volleyball. Probably the hardest volleyball ever made -- danielle and i ended up with bruised arms wrists and fingers. Danielle wants me to add that her team won. However i disagree. Everyone then decided to jump off the boat into the ocean. We had such a great time watching people do flips Into the water. Pictures of that soon to come once I can steal them from others on the tour.

Then dinner and guess what!!!! We had more seafood!! Crabs and prawns again. But we aren't complaining. However the beef was a little questionable. Apparently in the north of Vietnam many people eat dog. I hear it has a very chewy texture. Hmmmm pretty sure that's what we were eating.

Soooooo Tara our guide said that we are having a pirate themed party --- After the dog meat and junk boat, A pirate party seems about right. So we all put one our best pirate gear and compared. Ended up in a lot of rub on tattoos and shotgunning beers- Canadians vs Aussies. Obviously the Canadians won. Definitely a great night partying on the boat with the group!!

Danielle and I went back to our room and oddly enough our entire room was soaked!!!! Danielle is convinced I showered over the bed and that's why it was wet. Hahaha but realistically I think there was a leak right over the bed.

Woke up the next day and went kayaking in a thunder storm. Raining so much it was crazy. We tried to feed bananas to the monkeys in the caves but they were taking shelter from the rain Unfortunately we didn't see any but Danielle and girl on our tour, Jill were see-sawing on the kayaks and played piano keys. Two of the Aussie boys - some nicknamed them dumb and dumber - sinked their kayak and then lost a paddle somewhere in the open water. Haha it was so funny watching them trying to flip it over because in the end they just ended up sinking it more. Hahaha

Headed back to Hanoi and got ready for our last night with the group!!!

And funny picture below. A kid was rowing the boat with his feet. Quite impressed!! And our attempt to be Canadian pirates haha