PICTURES FROM HALONG BAY

 After a tedious drive,  which boat is ours??

Oh, board the tender and we will find it





Along the way

Better than the pictures!!!!!!

Our new home

Next morning coffee and cakes on deck and off we went in a boat (see next blog addition for picture of that little boat)

to visit the fishing village deep in the bay. We were 4 in a boat often rowed by a tiny woman

      

Then to a beach for a swim or a hike to the top of a mountain.
Swim in that water???  I was sad to see the garbage.
Bob and I climbed half way to the top of the mountain and congratulated ourselves.

Back to our floating home for a fine buffet brunch.

HALONG BAY

Four hour drive each way.  Bad roads, very bumpy, very dusty.

"Pee" stop....  at a site that has clean toilets. Yeah!!    
                                               
                                             and

MANY   MANY  things to sell and MANY sales girls, eager to tempt to buy. There are many beautiful things to buy:
Marble statues and small pieces,   embroidered pictures,        silk material,    jewelry,     purses,     and more.
We bought.   But on the return from Halong Bay instead of walking through the building we walked around it.
(Cheaper  pee)

This is a place where you see disabled children, boys and girls,  doing intricate embroidery.  Most are the progeny of agent orange infected grandparents. The government contributes help for these kids. Sales from this site also are of help.         
 
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Ah........ the bay....Unesco World Heritage Site...
          Even more awesome than we imagined
There was a haze, making it look like a Chinese print.

We boarded our luxury Chinese  junk.  About 10 berths.
 Ours had a private balcony.  
       We slept with the door open ..................................       .............beauty of the night     reflections.
                 moon and pleasant cool evening breeze.
Awoke just before dawn and sat on the balcony in robes       ...................Dawn broke changing the magic 
                           into more magic, pink hues
       Later SUN             How lucky
The week before voyages had to be cancelled.