© 2016 Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
Despite my indecision, I was finally on my way…to Ha Long Bay!
Picked up promptly at 8:00 a.m., I was one of the first of the group in the tour bus. Being first, however, is not always a good thing. Glancing around and seeing so many seats, I realize one of two things will happen. We either have a small group and many of the seats will not be filled or every seat will be filled and that empty seat next to me will be occupied by another tourist…and indeed, if we are filling the bus, we will probably be picking up passengers for quite some time. Oh well, at least I had a window seat so that I could take pictures as we drove around picking up the others.
After a while, the seats filled, one by one, and our tour guide, Sonny, began asking some people to move to accommodate passengers traveling together. Oh no! Please don’t ask me to move from my window seat! I was getting some great shots! As he walked through the aisle, he glanced my way, but kept moving. A young Japanese woman reluctantly joined me after he asked her to move forward. Thankfully, I was safe at my window!
We continued to drive around the Old Quarter until our bus was full. Finally, we made our way out of the city, heading east, crossing the Red River on the Tranh Tri Bridge, proceeding through the Bac Ninh Province and the lush green rice paddies.
Having been told that it was a three and a half to four hour trip, we all hunkered down, taking naps until we finally reached our halfway point, the Dong Trieu Ceramic and Pottery Village. Stretching our legs, we were able to get drinks and snacks before re-boarding for the remainder of our trip.
After our short stop, the Japanese woman, Masami, who had been napping for most of the trip, struck up a conversation. Wouldn’t you know? She was also a flight attendant! Needless to say, we talked for the remainder of the drive and were fast friends with many things in common.
Eventually, after what seemed like a lot more driving than we were promised, we arrived at Ha Long Bay. From the terminal, we could see the limestone karsts and isles in the distance that have made the area famous and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After a quick rub to Buddha’s belly for luck and a safe journey, we were led to our boat, the Violeto 2. Boarding quickly, we were seated downstairs and served a beautiful Vietnamese lunch consisting of fish, shrimp, morning glory, rice, fruits, salads and many other delectable treats. After our meal was complete, we all anxiously climbed to the top deck where we could feast our eyes on the stunning scenery.
Our first stop was for kayaking and boat rides. Some of the kayaks looked to be in various stages of seaworthiness and we were told that getting wet was a possibility. Since I had my big camera and iPhone in my possession, I wasn’t willing to risk their safety. Masami and I discussed it and decided that we would let someone else do the rowing in one of the traditional bamboo boats. Joining a Filipino couple and a Chinese gentleman, we were a festive group, taking pictures and laughing as we were rowed through openings in the limestone to hidden bays. Such a shame it was, however, that there were so many other rowboats and kayaks to ruin what could have been an amazing and tranquil experience. Still, we enjoyed the views and the very small, colorful floating village that we embarked from and returned to.
After re-boarding the Violeto 2, we began our journey to Dong Thien Cung a large cave located on one of the islands within Ha Long Bay. There were many stairs to climb up the mountain to the entrance of the cave and a large number of other tour groups to navigate around while following our tour guide through the space. The cave was nicely lit and many interesting formations were pointed out to us. Upon our exit, Masami and I were able to get some nice photos on the lookout point.
As we departed from the island, we were assembled downstairs on our boat, once again, for tea and a small snack. The afternoon was drawing to a close and the sun was lower in the sky giving the bay an ethereal quality. Many of us gathered on the upper deck for a few fleeting glances at the emerald waters, exquisite rock formations, fishermen and junk boats while we made our return trip.
Once back on the mainland, we braced ourselves for the long journey back to Hanoi. Arriving at my hotel around 8:30 p.m., I was exhausted but excited for the day’s adventure. Not only had I seen a beautiful part of our planet, but I had made a new friend.
The best part of traveling is not only seeing things that we have not seen before, like Ha Long Bay, but sometimes meeting people from other places and walks of life. Masami and I were both grateful that because of time constraints, we had chosen the day trip to Ha Long Bay. We were also grateful that because of our large group, she was asked to change seats. We may never have had the opportunity to talk as much as we did on our journey!
I plan to return to Ha Long Bay one day and experience its beauty once again and I hope to visit with my new friend in the near future!
For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.com
Alova Day Cruises
- http://alovacruises.com/
- Prices vary, but run about $50-60 per person, depending on method of booking. The price includes transportation to and from your hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, bottled water, lunch on boat (beverages not included), snack and English speaking tour guide.
- Pickup from 0800-0900 and return from 2000-2100.