Kayaking to Monkey Island!

We stayed the night on Cat Ba island. The next day we took kayaks and went kayaking among the karsts.

Well, Rohan did most of the kayaking while I focused on sunbathing. It was a gorgeous place to go kayaking.

We had a break on Monkey Island, yep that's right, and saw some cute little monkeys. 

Kayaking back to Cat Ba island we passed floating fishing villages where people live in floating houses and live through fishing.

Halong Bay was stunning and it would have been nice to be able to spend more time there. Unfortunately we had a boat to catch.

Back in Hanoi it was time to say goodbye to our tour group. 

The Vietnam tour was coming to an end. Most of the others headed to their home countries the next day, but Rohan and I still had one more day to spend in Hanoi. 

Bay of the Descending Dragon

After a 2-hour-bus drive we arrived at Halong City, where we would take a cruise out to Halong Bay and spend a night on one of the islands. We drove through nice scenery of rice fields, water buffalos and village life.

On the way we stopped to see some handicrafts such as embroidery being made.

Halong Bay consists of almost 2,000 small limestone islets that rise from the ocean. 

We did the cruise on a Chinese style junk boat.

Many of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves. We stopped at one island to see the caves.

Back on the boat it started pouring with rain. We had to throw out the anchor because at times we couldn't even see the massive limestone karsts around us from the fog. But the bay was absolutely magical in the storm with all the lightning. 

The Heart of Hanoi

The train in Hue was late and we had to spend a few sweaty and uncomfortable hours at the train station with the temperature over +40 degrees and nowhere to escape the heat. After yet another vodka night on the train we arrived in Hanoi early in the morning. 

Since we weren't able to check into the hotel yet, we did a walking tour in the city's Old Quarter. It was early morning so the streets were less mad and the air fresher. We arrived at a lake, where people had gathered to do their morning stretching, workout, or to just relax and socialize. It was a tranquil and beautiful place right in the city centre.

 The bridge of the rising sun

We had a long sleep at the hotel and woke up for dinner. After dinner we had a look around the local market, which was full of exotic treats from turtles to eels and frogs. Then we headed back to the lake. The lake seems to be the centre of the social life of the people in Hanoi. Lots of people had gathered by the water to enjoy each other's company and the city lights reflected in the water.

The next day we left for Halong Bay, definitely one of the highlights of the trip!

Perfume River

In Hue we also did a dragon boat cruise on the Perfume river. On the way there we stopped to see some more of the local handicrafts. 

The boat trip was nice and relaxing with beautiful views. We stopped to have a look at a pagoda that was the tallest in Vietnam. It is one of the oldest and most famous religious buildings of the country.

We took yet another overnight train to Hanoi, where we would arrive early in the morning. 

Relaxing in Hoi An part II

Chilaxing on a gorgeous long beach with a pina colada... Tough life!

We did a cooking class at a small local restaurant. I LOOOOVE Vietnamese food, if I didn't make it clear yet.

We cooked spring rolls, grilled fish in a banana leaf, sweet and sour wontons, fried squid and a papaya salad. Omnomnom....

Relaxing in Hoi An

We spent three nights in Hoi An, relaxing, small riverside town in Central Vietnam. It is famous for its tailoring, and all the other travellers had some clothes custom made. With its quiet streets, pretty, wooden buildings, nice, relaxing atmosphere, not to mention a gorgeous beach, Hoi An felt like a haven from all the hectic Vietnamese cities. 

We had a nice hotel room with a pool as well. 

Wandering around the busy local markets was always interesting. Fresh veggies, herbs, fruit, live chickens and ducks! And cheap food, of course.

In Hoi An the pace of life seemed slower than elsewhere in the country, and I would have loved to spend more time there. We did a boat trip, a bike ride to the countryside, a cooking class and we even had some time to enjoy beach life, but I'll leave that until next time....

Last Weeks in Melbourne

I had one month in Melbourne before going home. I had a nasty surprise waiting for me when I got home, as the chick I rented my apartment to while I was gone had trashed it, stolen a lot of my stuff and taken off. Winter was on it's way and the weather was getting chilly. Rohan spent a couple of weeks with me before going on his big trip. We did a lot of touristy things that I still hadn't got around to doing during my time in Melbourne. We visited the Old Melbourne Gaol. 

We also got a little taste of what it is like to be arrested and locked up in the City Watch House. I was a happy prisoner! 

I got a little taste of where I belong...

The infamous bushranger Ned Kelly among dozens of others were hanged here. The gaol was very intriguing and also a little bit creepy when you think of all the lunatics and killers who have stayed there. Definitely a must-see in Melbourne!

We also went to an Aussie Rules footy match at Etihad Stadium. Melbourne is all about the footy at this time of year, so you have to go and experience it. The atmosphere was fun and of course I had the hat and the scarf. No idea who was playing, but I think we won!

There is a place where you can go ice-skating in Melbourne so of course I had to take Rohan, who had never been on skates before.

We visited the Melbourne Museum as well, and wandered around discovering the street art in the maze of the Melbourne laneways. 

After a couple of weeks Rohan left on his big trip and I stayed in Melbourne. The last two weeks I felt stressed, sad and wistful. I knew it wouldn't take long before I would be missing Melbourne again, but at the moment I felt like it was time to go home. At least for a visit. 

Before going home, however, I somehow found myself in the middle of the hectic but beautiful VIETNAM!? Stay tuned!