Halong Bay

The departure for Halong Bay this morning was a bit bumpy. Nadi and I were, as always, 'well prepared', while Mara was a bit sleepy. Getting up, packing, breakfast all at the last minute. These delays made my heart race and ultimately led to me forgetting some of my belongings at the hotel in Hanoi. Consequently, the mood for the next few hours was understandably chilly.

After arriving in the Bay, I cooled my spirits with a drink to get back to operational temperature. The check-in went smoothly and our first little cruise was about to start. After a short safety briefing, we received an update on the schedule for the next 24 hours onboard the Dragon Pearl 2 from Indochina Junk. Several activities such as island hopping, kayaking, and squid fishing were on the agenda. In addition, five meals were announced. Challenge accepted!

We then settled into our charming, albeit somewhat outdated, cabins. At 1 PM, there was the first eight-course meal for lunch. It's quite impressive what the guys have conjured up on the plates here, especially when you see the galley onboard.

Our journey to Halong Bay, more specifically the slightly quieter Bai Tu Long Bay, took us past some impressive limestone formations, of which there are about 2000 here. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and may officially be referred to as one of the Wonders of the World.