HA LONG BAY!!!!!!!!

Kenny helped us arrange a highly anticipated trip to Ha Long Bay, THE sightseeing place I've wanted to see ever since picking up my first book about Vietnam months ago. How badly? Well, if we couldn't go today and we got the "free to leave" clearance in the next couple of days, I would want to stay an extra day just to go there. Couldn't rationalize coming this far around the world and missing this place. So the tour bus arrived this morning a little late and we and theMausts load into a van which seemed pretty well loaded to begin with, mostly with Japanese tourists, with NO kids.... I bet they were thrilled to see US pile in!!!!

It was a long ride in a crowded van to Ha Long. Cindy met new friends and charmed them with her stories!!!


Well another driving adventure ensued, first through the busy old quarter and streets of Hanoi, and then for the 100+ km drive to Ha Long. Very interesting scenery to be taken in, lots of rice fields, water buffalo, lots of farming going on, and some just beautiful countryside.

It took some 3 hours, and the sun finally poke through (it looked like it was gonna rain all day when we woke up, as it looks almost every morning here), which just made it hotter and hotter. The sweat was pouring down by the time we got on the boat, the "Hai Long", for a "three-hour tour"...

Our boat for our excursion into Ha Long Bay

We had a group of about 15 people on a "junk" boat, gas powered, and a cabin inside with tables for "dining". There was also a deck upstairs to hang out and really enjoy the scenery. I won't say much, I'll just post a bunch of pics and maybe a video clip to try to capture the grandeur of this little excursion. It was truly a magnificent place to see!!!



They first took us to a "floating village" where people actually live full time, more than 100 kids live there and go to school there as well! They sell fish, shellfish, and fruit from their boats.... what a completely different kind of life!! One woman selling fruit from her boat asked about Molly when she saw her. We told her she is from Vietnam and we are bringing her to the U.S. She asked if we would bring her little daughter there too!!!!!!!!!! She was the cutest little girl... you can see her pics... we would if we could, and I'm NOT sure she wasn't serious!!!!





We were served a huge luncheon on the boat, although many people would not touch some of the food! Lots of funky looking seafood, tofu, noodles, rice and, I'm not sure how it fit in, but FRENCH FRIES!!! The food was actually good, if you got past some of its appearance. Anyway, we then boarded a motorboat to explore some of the caves in the area. Some more spectacular scenery there!!





And then we went for a hike on one of the islands to a most beautiful, huge cave, with amazing stalagmites and stalagtites, guided by Tien (aka "Tony") who told us stories about the caves. Emma was accosted once again by a group of Asian women who wanted to have their pictures taken with her. It's really hysterical, because this has happened on an almost DAILY basis.

I took this picture of Emma who was posing for pictures with a group of Asian women. THEY LOVE HER!!!

She is really treated like a movie star here! To the point where Kate told our guide, Tien, that "you know, she IS a big movie star in the US. You never heard of EMMA?" I think he bought it. She never fessed up! Emma LOVES that attention, anyway. She handles it really well. We then hiked to another huge cave (we were drenched in sweat at this point), and Emma and I ventured down a beautiful long pathway through the cave to explore all of its beauty.... the other SLACKERS waited for us in a huge puddle of their sweat! We finally boarded the boat again and returned to Ha Long, and then got back on the van for the ride home. The girls, Emma and Molly did wonderfully, sleeping a great part of the ride back. Molly slept on my chest most of the way, when I wasn't tickling her with my big NOSE!!! She loves that... that's the only way I can really tickle her, not sure why??? She's doing really well. Her skin is SO improved, and her neck strength seems to be improving every day. She sees the pediatrician tomorrow for her visa medical. Hopefully we'll see the same pediatrician, so she can contrast the before/after. Well, enjoy the pics.... hopefully tomorrow we'll have a better idea of our return timing. We get Molly's passport in the AM, get her physical in the afternoon, and will HOPEFULLY hear from the USEmbassy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Some pics from today:

Pic of the wildlife I was able to get from the motorboat ride through the caves and around the bay

I've been looking to get a picture of one of these signs..... This is a restaurant that serves Thit Cho ... aka... dog meat!!!!! No, we haven't tried it, but this sign is seen frequently, mostly outside of the city

Did I mention how they carry virtually ANYTHING on the backs of their motorcycles?????

A farmer and his water buffalo.... something we just don't see everyday!