Posted Nov. 18:
More surprises in Ha Long Bay. As we walked along the pier towards our boat I saw dozens of boats along the pier, some preparing for departure, one nosing slowly into the channel, and another boat coming in hot towards the pier, apparently trying to thread the needle between the slow boat in the channel and the stern of another boat at the pier. I couldn’t see how he could make it, then I heard a loud crunch and scraaaaape. I thought that was the end of it, but the incoming boat changed direction from the impact and then came an even bigger “crunch” and “scraaaaape” as he hit another boat still at the pier, loaded with passengers and ready for departure. I think there were no injuries.
We walked on towards our boat and even though we were a little late to arrive I saw that there were no others on the boat. Upon asking our guide where the other tourists were he replied that we had the boat all to ourselves. No fighting for seats, no jostling for position to take a good photo, no worrying about someone taking our things if we went elsewhere on the boat. We had a nice quiet cruise of several hours, and the sun broke through the clouds for the last half of our cruise.
Posted Nov. 19:
Ha Giang Loop: where breathtaking never ends. Imagine the most beautiful Chinese landscape painting you’ve ever seen... then imagine seeing it live, changing every second over a 100 mile drive. That’s Ha Giang.
Nui Co Tien (Fairy Maiden Mountain) at Yen Minh:
Snaking road at the start of Ma Pi Leng Pass:
Angels nearby:
Endless rice terraces:
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