Ha Long Bay: Caves, Mist and a Pottery Village
So, I may not have been properly prepared for this weather. No one on our trip really was. While still beautiful, Ha Long Bay ended up being very misty, and thus very chilly.
Not a blue sky, but still beautiful.
Half of our day was spent on our bus heading to the bay. We made one stop at a place where they made silk tapestries (don't worry Mom, I got you one,) but the rest was just riding and watching the countryside.
Once we reached the bay we took a tender to our boat and set out. Lunch was tasty, then time take a ton of photos.
At least the fog was good at adding depth.
Boats filled the bay. It was actually hard to get shots without them.
After some time shooting photos and getting set up in our cabins, we took the tenders to a beautiful cave.
It was much bigger than I expected, with well over the 150 steps they said before we started. It was worth the hike though.
My cousin David doing his best Gollum to protect his beers.
My uncle John enjoying the caves.
The caves were very well lit, and huge.
My cousin David finishing his half of the "six-pack cave".
My uncle John returning to the boat.
The rest of the night was a bit of a wash. Once the sun went down, the cold really sapped the life out of you.
The next morning there was another small cave, this time leading to a cool little lake. And monkeys!
Coming into the lake.
Monkeys!
After that it was back to shore, and back on the road. We headed to catch out flight to Da Nang, stopping in a small pottery village on the way.
Making caskets for the second burial.
So much wood for the kilns.
Now I'm standing in line for the flight to Da Nang. It should be much warmer once we get to the central highlands. Til then...