Great day at Halong Bay...AMAZING!!!!!

"...to form this first- rate wonder, nature only uses: Stone and Water...There is just only two materials themselves chosen from as much as materials, in order to write, to draw, to sculpture, to create everything...It is quite possible that here is the image of the future world".

- Nguyên Nguc (Vietnamese Writer decribing Ha Long Bay)


Question? What do you think it would cost to get a tour of what is considered one of the most beautifull places in the world as ranked by UNESCO and other agencies? We had a private car (from 8AM – 6PM), private driver (from 8AM – 6PM), private bi-lingual guide (from 8AM – 6PM), deluxe junk (vietnamese traditional boat) 4 hour cruise, gourmet seafood lunch prepared on the junk, guided tour of a cave with beautifull geological displays, and more. Yes this experience cost less then $200 for all three of us….In the US my guess it be tripple, if not quadruple that cost…

We spent the day yesterday taking a day trip to Halong bay…We had a three hour car ride to the the bay, took a 4 hour cruise and returned back to the hotel. What an amazing (and tiring) experience…We visited a famous, recenty discovered, cave where we saw many geological wonders…very beautiful..It was somewhat phyisically challenging clibming many steps while carrying a toddler, but very worthwhile…We had an amazing seafood lunch on the boat, a great crew, and saw amazing sites (see pictures).

Anthony did great on this ten hour excursion…He was a real trooper the whole time…he was a great traveler. He slept in the car and loved the boat ride…(He is going to love going on pop-pop’s boat). We like to travel, so hopefully he keeps up his travel abilities…

We are really enjoying this opportunity to explore and learn more about our son’s country..We want to know and experience as much as possible…we want to understand where he has come from..We know we will never truly understand everything about his culture, but we want to at least emerse ourselves as much as possibble.

This afternoon we wondered around the old quarter of Vietnam…Great shopping, food, and evertything…We will definitely be going back there to do more shopping…We have felt very safe here, no problems, or anything…The Vietnamese people are very nice and hospitable… We are a little bit out of the way at our hotel, so we are realying on taxi’s to move around, but no problem…Hotel is great, it is really a one bedroom apartment…with kitchenette (with range, rice cooker, microwave, toaster, frig, and all other things you need), washer/dryer, living room, bedroom, bathroom, etc….We usually prepare breakfast and eat lunch and dinner out…Works out real great..

We have gone to the supermarket several times for shopping…to the “BIG C” super center…really cool…you can get anything you want…It is kind of a Super Walmart idea with a supermarket and department store in one…We stick out like sore thumbs in there, but everyone is very helpful…Through some guess work we are able to find and identify everything we need…(Thank God pampers is in English). On the bottom floor of the Big C is a mall with different retailers and restaurants…So it is a real busy place…Also across from our hotel is a steet with many outdoor food vendors and a bakery…We have gone out there for bananas, etc..…We have tried many pastries and breads at the bakery..really good…There are meats available for sale on the street, but we are a little nervous with it since it is not in a refrigerated container (not to mention difficult to identify).

Although we will be happy to go home and get back into a routine…We are really trying to make the most of things here in the short time we have…Tomorrow afternoon we are going on a half day city tour, followed by the famous Hanoi Water Puppet show…We are excited about this…

Until our next post from Vietnam, here are some pictures…Thanks for all of your continued prayers, e-mails, and posts…It is really amazing the support we have received….

Gặp lại sau nhé (See you later!)

Halong bay..the dock where the all of the junks come in..

Waiting for our boat....

Our Boat...#59

Beautifull...

Inside the cave we were able to explore...

Breathtaking...

Natural Beauty...

Trying to see the water...

Two kissing rocks...

Having fun on the boat!

Sitting on the front of the boat with daddy...

Playing with the camera...