6 AM rolled around pretty quick, especially when you're sleeping for most of the trip. I was glad for the delay (for once) because it meant less time in the early hours of Hanoi without anything to do.
The center part of Ga Ha Noi looks new and incongruous with the rest of the station, with good reason: it was bombed by B-52's in 1972, and rebuilt in the finest Soviet style.
The Hanoi Palace Hotel provided a breakfast (even though check in wasn't for two more days, after Ha Long). A $5 breakfast never tasted so good.
I look like I have a square head here. Also, filthy disgusting. Time to get on a bus for another five hours!
K-mart!? In Hanoi!?
My view for the ride from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay.
In case you can't make it out, that dude is carrying a shower unit on the side of his scooter.
Leaving Hanoi - I just got here!
There is no bounds to what people will carry on their scooters here.
This is the rest-stop. It's a weird combination of sweat-shop...
Snack shop...
And lawn figurine shop...
First glimpse of the Ha Long Bay stone monoliths.
My first ride in a Ford Transit! Also, it was crammed with 13 people. I could barely stand the last hour, cramped in the first row seats.
But then there's this.
And it was another cavernous building with a little bit of everything for sale.
Out back was the fresh produce - it all smelled amazing.
And the fresh fish, some of which was being bludgeoned to death at my feet.
And then there was the view.
And this is why people come to Ha Long. To see these amazing rock formations.
Photography simply cannot do this place justice.
Small pretty park in Hong Hai.
Hong Hai with the rocks as part of the neighborhood.
Tomorrow it's off on a boat to actually see the rocks in the water up close and personal!
