Halong Bay

...Fishing on the bay...
...canoeing on the bay...


...parasailing on the bay...
...pagodas and beach on the bay...
...caving on the bay... views through mouth of a cave...
...Sampan on the bay selling beers and stuff...hmmm!!! thats me in the water as a lifeguard incase she needs saving...
...swimmimg in the bay...hey ! thats my wife overboard! help ! help ! P is a very competent and a graceful swimmer...I was very proud of her when she dived in...
...beautiful ...one of the beach on one of the island...


...tranqil...

...magnificient...Halong Bay Islands..some of the thousands(4000) ...real awsome vistas...
...marvel at the majesty of Halong Bay...

...golden sandy beaches and clear water...
...realaxing on the beach with breathtaking vistas...

...spectacular sunset amongst magical landscape of limestone islands...
...incredible natural illuminaton as sun sets over our cruiser...

Good mornin Vietnnaaammm!...views from our bedroom balcony from cruiser as sun rises over the bay!

..Halong bay is 3 hour drive from Hanoi and it is just trully beautiful...this is THE natural wonder of Vietnam...just picture thousands of incredible isalnds just rising from the emarald waters of the Gulf Of Tonkin(South China Sea) and you have vision of greatness...it is also now World Heritage Site...we spent two days at sea amid the spectcular scenery of Halong Bay on a super cruiser...we were with 14 other tourist of all nationalites...had great time exchanging travellers tales with more than a few Tiger beers...spent the nite watching billions of stars with total darkness....even saw few shooting stars...it was total magic! P dived in to the emarald sea with others and she said it was more than magical swimming in wonderful warm waters of Halong Bay! as for me I stayed dry overboard with yet another cold Tiger in my hand! and also looking out for any sharks! P is a great swimmer and so is the little one...by the way Chinese border patrols are not far from here and they exchange fireworks on a regular basis...all countries surrounding these parts have put a claim to some of these islands and next war in South East Asia may well start here...some 7 countries in all! Halong means ...the dragon lives here...but its a long legendary tale in Vietnamese folklore!...Legend has it that these islands....well ...tell you some other time...some of islands are dotted with beaches and we came ashore on one island and it was like Robinson C island! I climbed to the top of this island..some 700 steps...and had a magical views of thousands of islands ...meanwhile P and V were swimming in the waters down below...also done another water cave...some islands are right out of Jurrasic Park...wish we had spent couple of more days here..but we had to move on to the next chapter in our journey...next we are catching a 17 hour sleeper train from Hanoi to Hue in Central Vietnam...during the Vietnam War Vietnam was divided right bang in the middle by their white masters...yes the French,Uncle Sam and our old favourite yes The Brits...North and South Vietnam...we are moving to heart of where most of the major battles of Vietnam War took place...Hue is 90km in the old South Vietnam across the old dividing line...cant wait...