Well, this was going to be a beautiful day, no matter what way you look at it.
Breakfast at the Viet House.
The package deal for the day was a boat ride, lunch, a tour of a cave, and a few hours out among the Ha Long rock formations.
The fishing boats and other cruise boats all lined up.
From the top deck. It was cool, but the sun was shining.
There were dozens of these types of boats taking small groups of people out for the day. In the summer time I imagine they would be completely packed, but in this off season not so much.
There really aren't too many words that you can use to describe Ha Long Bay, so I'll just let the pictures do the talking.
Next up was the caves at Hang Sung Sot.
The caves alone are spectacular, but placed amid Ha Long? It's a bit overwhelming.
The path down from the cave lead out onto this lovely walkway bridge.
I won't lie, it was quite nerve wracking.
Lunch of fresh seafood on board.
This about sums up traditional Ha Long Bay.
Landing at one of the islands to climb to the top was an adventure in and of itself. Our boat couldn't get close enough to the shore, so we had to climb along other boats.
In warmer weather, most people are swimming here. It was in the high 60's, but still a bit cool.
Woof, woof.
These steps led to the top.
At the top of the steps was a random cage of monkeys. No real explanation...
From the end of the steps and where the monkey cage was, only a washed out dirt path led higher. The view was obviously well worth the climb.
Going back down was fun...
On the ride back, the temperature in the sun hit the high 70's, and it was the perfect time for a nap. I know it may seem strange to nap amid this stunning beauty, but after awhile, the sensory overload gets to you. Plus climbing to the top of the mountain, and a beer at lunch..
Now that I know what's out there in the Bay, I want to go back. They have cruises that go out for two nights...I can't imagine how beautiful that must be, seeing the sun rise and sunset...
Another meal at Viet House.
And some blogging by the woodstove (temp. was down in the low 50s).
