The main traffic on the motorway this morning were small buses transporting people to cruise ships – there were dozens and dozens of them. The motorway was three lanes of traffic in both directions and two of the three lanes had a maximum speed of 100km/hr, while one lane allowed for faster traffic at 120km/hr. I don’t know why I mention that because over here, lanes on these roads are optional, speeds are optional , and most other traffic rules I know just do not apply.
We had two stops on the way. The first, for a cigarette stop for our driver and the second for a ‘WC’ stop and a coffee (as informed by the driver holding up a sign written in English). However, this second stop was at a commercial place that sold all things ‘pearl’. I should have guessed it when I saw all the small buses we’d seen on the road parked there as well.
In order to get to the café, we had to walk about 500m through snake like alleys, similar to an IKEA store in Australia, past counter after counter of pearl jewellery before we got to order a coffee. Luckily, the Pearl Kingdom staff did not hassle us, and we left without buying anything we hadn’t planned on buying.
Once we arrived at the tour company I had booked our cruise with, we discovered there was one other couple in the same boat as us (yes, that is a pun); the crew of our original boat had all tested positive to COVID, or so we were told. I actually wondered if the company had just told us that because there were not enough passengers.
To get to our boat we had to travel in golfcart-type vehicles, and then in a tender boat.
Poor Mick really hurt himself getting into the cart – gashing his head in a couple of places whilst climbing in. The staff were horrified and immediately started advising people to watch their heads. Mick put on a brave face, but he was actually slightly concussed.
Luckily he was wearing his cap – otherwise it would have been much worse.
Oh, and I took the photo for him – so he could see the damage.
This cruise was not full. There were 37 passengers (maximum capacity of 48) on this cruise, and I read that the boat had 35 staff or crew members. And, we certainly were very well looked after.
One regulation for this cruise was that we could not bring plastic water bottles with us. And, there was no plastic on the boat. Glass water jugs and bottles were provided instead. This part of Halong Bay is very focused on cleaning up the environment. That’s what we were told.
We were surprised to see the infrastructure at the harbour which I later read was opened in 2019. Most of the hotels and shops were empty, mainly because as soon as it was opened, COVID closed everything down, and the cruising industry is is only just recommencing.
These rather French looking buildings went for blocks and blocks. All were totally empty and more again were still under construction.
Halong Bay comprises almost 2000 small and larger islands, mostly made of limestone, and hundreds of small bays.
Our room was very comfortable and provided an indoor sitting area looking out onto the view. The room even had a huge bathtub and air-conditioning.
Lunch on Dragon Legend 2 was a ‘set menu’ of nine different courses. At about course number 6, I remembered one thing about cruising that I do not like; the fact that I have no self-control. I ate way too much and vowed I would try to be better from then on.
After lunch the anchor was dropped and we hopped into a small boat to go exploring a cave, and to go kayaking.
Mick ventured into the cave, but the steps to get us to the cave were a big enough challenge for me. We both decided kayaking was not for us. We were the oldest on this trip; and that was our excuse. The others seemed to enjoy it.
The Dragon Legend 2 then headed to a secluded spot in Bai Tu Long Bay, where we were to spend the night. There was only one other smaller ship near us; a boat from the same company.
Mick and I were offered free cocktails before dinner because of the muck up with our plans – which we enjoyed on the top deck while we watched the sun setting.
Dinner was served outside on the top deck and was excellent. We were entertained by the Cruise Manager as he played the flute, beautifully.
Mick then tried his luck catching squid from the back of the boat with a few other passengers – but had to give up defeated, and headed to bed. We learnt the next morning that no one caught a thing. Mick knew why – the tide was wrong!
After breakfast we were taken on a tour of a floating fishing village where we hopped into small boats, each rowed by a lone woman. Not a word was spoken as she rowed us past fishing ponds and houses, and magnificent scenery. It was very special.
Mick and I had seen quite a lot of plastic bottles and foam material like that found in eskies, floating past our window since we’d been on the boat. We were pleased our boat was not contributing to it.
When we got to the fishing village we saw two large floating containers filled with plastics and foam.
The people living here have a role in collecting any material they see as they travel around their village.
Before heading back to the harbour, we were fed a second meal for the day – brunch at 10.15am. But it was a full lunch. I stuck to my pledge and did not eat too much because I knew we would be fed as soon as we boarded our next cruise.
Footnote:
Mick and I just don’t get these women. We had not seen a self-stick since we left home a few weeks ago. These girls gave theirs a run for its money.
Without a word of a lie, they hardly ceased taking photos of themselves, each other or the group of them. The scenery – not so much; just as a backdrop. Then they would spend the next 20 minutes viewing the photos they had just taken. We are unsure if they saw much of Halong Bay at all. It blew our minds.
Jane and Mick's Holiday Adventures 