Halong Bay and Hanoi, Vietnam
My Vietnam trip two months ago can be summarized in few short diaries which I wrote on my second, third and final day in Halong Bay and Hanoi, Vietnam.
You read about my first day in Sapa.
Here’s the rest of the story.
Day 2
I’m sailing, I’m sailing. Man, this is luxury!
I am currently sitting on a rattan sofa at our dining table which, fortunately and unfortunately, only two of us share. While waiting anxiously for lunch to be served, I am typing this entry while Kenny is sitting opposite reading his lonely planet Vietnam Guide.
The boat is about to set to sail soon. Life! This has got to be life!
It is the little things we enjoy once in a while with a good friend away on an escapade to some third world countries where luxury like this costs as little as USD 50, which includes a night stay on the boat (we’re going to sleep with the sea beneath and the stars above us tonight!!! Tell me this is not life!), lunch, dinner and breakfast included, all while sailing on Halong Bay sea. We even get to swim and kayak in one of the most beautiful beach in the northern Vietnam.
The weather is just beautiful, a bit sunny but nothing can be more perfect.
Posing outside the boat (Have to hold on to the plank not to fall into the sea)
View from room/boat
Cat pose. "Purrr....."
Dining area on boat
Nerd and his lonely planet
Lunch
Stuffed crabs
These are nice
Kenny and me chilling on deck
Nearby tourists taking a dip
Kayaking on the sea
View from top deck
Sleeping under the stars
Day 3
Waking up this morning is hard, it’s a peaceful morning and instead of the usual bird chirpings, I hear engine choo-ing away in the distance. My morning is greeted by the scenic calm sea and the mountains surrounding us sit silently and beautifully as the night before.
Last night it rained heavily, splashing against the wooden window next to my bed, it made the waves churned a bit, but all only to induce me to sink deeper into my dream.
Some fishermen can be seen withdrawing fishing net onto their wooden sampan from my dining table window, again I am typing apprehensively into Kenny’s laptop (note to self: I should really get a laptop of my own).
Neighbour boat. “Ahoy there!”
See the nice nice scenery
Breakfast
Day 4
Cycling in Hanoi is probably one of the most horrific and adrenaline pumping experience I’ve ever had in my traveling days, more so than finishing all your cash and realizing you still have three more days before your flight back home.
It is so dangerous, I don’t think that Vietnamese in Hanoi city ever obey traffic rules, which really made me wonder why did they bother installing traffic lights?
I learned, however, the best way to avoid traffic accidents in Hanoi is to close your eyes, and walk straight. I’m serious. The cars and motorcycles and bicycles will just miraculously miss you by an inch, BUT. will. NEVER. hit you.
Kenny failed this test miserably. “Sorry Kenny, I seriously didn’t know you fell down on the street until I cycled few hundreds meters away and realized you disappeared. I was closing my eyes~ LOL”
Traffic in Hanoi
Cyclo – RM1 per ride
Eating in the "Paris" of Hanoi
My weak attempt. Gosh, these are heavy
Shopping in Hanoi – looking for Ao Dai (pronounced “ao zai”)
Fine dining in Bobby Chin
Appetizer – Super Yummy!
My main course – Grilled prawns on sticky glutinous rice with coconut milk
A bit of everything
Mmmmmmm.... *so nice can die*
Dessert - died twice
My date and I. Bobby Chin I miss you~~
Posing by the lake
.........I like big trees............
Oh yea~~ I am Fu rong jie jie
26 kissed Nicole
gosh.. I wish I could go to these places.. if only I have time...
ReplyDeletewow... I wonder what would happen if u fall from the tree into the water... Ooops... Wicked mind at work...
ReplyDeletePretty jie jie, can u bring me the next time u go on a trip? I promise I'll be good... :p
now fu rong jie jie sucks big time... hahahaa.........
ReplyDeletespent a night in that boat?! must be nice..... eh...how is the sanitation? hygienic?
fookiat: find time.. go go go
ReplyDeletegeli tifa: which is why i didn't climb that far up. lol.. kenny did, but my photography skill sucks so all his furongjiejie photos blurry :p
sheon: why sucks, nice what. lol erm.. quite hygienic, though i didn't see how they prepare the food
nicole,
ReplyDeletewhich tour agency did u used at halong bay? i'm trying to book a good junk but it's so damn expensive. almost USD120 per person... where did u find one that cost 50USD?????
Kenny looks like he's reading scientist's lab report :P
ReplyDeleteThe animated pic, I thought tremor due to earthquake in indonesia again. Scary wei...water moves, mountain shouldn't.
Ah Nicole:
ReplyDeleteCan't help but to ask..."What's with the tree n u~"...hehe...kinda cannot figure out the way u post n the tree...u must love the tree very much~ 8D
Chubby Chin
Wow! Nice photos on the trip... The 2nd last photo of you and the tree looks kinda eeriee.....
ReplyDelete1 things i like about your blog is travelling.
ReplyDeleteeh ur hair damn cunlah! and i like your last 2 pics posing at the tree at nite...look like witches sabbath during fall...hehehe cool >:-)
Really nice scene at Halong Bay. I will make it my next destination. Can't wait to sleep under the sky full of star!
ReplyDeletealo Nicole ar..how much did it cost for the whole trip eh? (inclusive fo flight , food and accomodationz)
ReplyDeletethinking of going Vietnam this December leh ..very the expensive ar? please tolong...
SlowCatchUpKuan: there are few price range actually. I think your USD120 can be negotiate down to USD80. Trust me, the experience for that package is worth it.
ReplyDeletewhisperer: my hands a bit shakey, pai seh
jacky chin: tree hugger? lol...
dk boy: eerie? it's supposed to be artistic man! LOL
gothnol: flattered, flattered, till the last sentence. -.-
jam: yea.. it's awesome
bob m.i.l: erm.. RM1000 for 5 days approximately. Can go down to Rm800 depending how u spend. But it all depends on how cheap u can get ur flight ticks. I got mine for RM260 return.
Hi Nicole, sounds so relaxing..just wondering, is the boat rocking when you sleep on it, will one gets sea sick?
ReplyDeletethanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Nicole
ReplyDeleteSaw your real person in 928 Food Court last night...
Cant imagine what tops having dinner with a beautiful, funny, quirky and sensible girl in an Ao Dai in a fancy restaurant in old romantic Hanoi. A tingle of French in an Asian setting, we'll be falling in love by that tree besides the lake which housed the "Giant Turtle" legend (if I am not mistaken). Now, thats a holiday I wont forget. :)
ReplyDeleteI should be going again, but this time to HCM city, any takers?
A wonderful insight of what awaits out there!
ReplyDeletefurong jie jie? i'd rather mate with a cow. hahahahahahaha
ReplyDeletewhere ever i go, i must make sure beforehand that the sanitation system is up to basic requirements. :P
hey nico, i just return from a trip to danok, thailand (bordertown of bukit kayu hitam, malaysia), and 50km away from hatyai. despite that place being notoriously famous for their sex industry, it is still quite a nice place to chill if you know where to go. i went there for loi kratong, and their cheap food, cheap drinks, cheap (decent) massages, cheap lodging, and also strip shows. hahaha....i didnt do anything i'd be regretting later there, :P
rm200 should be enough to cover 2days/1night inclusive of lodging, food, massages, shows, and a little sightseeing.
the 2nd last pic is much like those scene in horror movie.. hehe^^
ReplyDeleteSounds like a really memorable trip. The best part is sleeping under the stars in a boat, I wish I could too. I've always admired your travels especially when you travel alone sometimes but haven't yet done so myself :) Maybe someday. Your life is fantastic!
ReplyDeletenice picture the last one....
ReplyDeletehaha....(^.^)
nice vacation pics..at least u n kenny had a gud time thr..eh de las two pics looks cun for horrow promo pic
ReplyDeletegreat pix!
ReplyDeletekenny has oily skin
ReplyDelete-kim
jz curios to ask, u r keeny sia 's gf?
ReplyDeleteOooh.. I wanna go Hanoi Bay. How do u find those stuff? The boat ride and accomodation? Did u find it thru the travel agencies?
ReplyDeleteThe Ao Dai fits u well. =) I'm too fat to wear one. Boohoo..