Rose early to complete a couple of tasks for my friends at Mister Safety Shoes......followed by a rather nondescript hotel breakfast for one ---and I should say that I believe that I am the only guest at this property that may have 50 rooms. Walked back down the long hill into town to locate the street market...perhaps a full kilometre and did not see a single tourist in this tourist town---not quite true, as I did have brief conversation with a French couple & their guide who confirmed to me that the tourists to this paradise have decided to stay home so far this season---economy issues in China, Brexit in the UK plus Euro problems and it could spell tough times for the good citizens of Halong
Bay.
After cruising around the central market looking for some candid photo opportunities, I returned to my hotel, "The Light" to await for my tour bus to pick me up at 12 noon and proceed out via a tour group in a tour boat for trip around a few of the over 3000 limestone cliffs that rear massively out of the green sea water of the South China see a couple of kilometres off shore. They are truly a geological wonder, a UNESCO designated site---- and I have to make it an early search project to discover how they were formed. The guide dished out the usual tales of monsters and ancient spirits living on specific rock towers which made for fun listening. Lime stone rock island beget limestone caves and we had the opportunity to walk through an amazing series of
massive caves containing ancient stalagmites and stalactites of many different hues. I am not a group tour kinda guy, but sometimes it is the only way to efficiently see hard to get to places in an economical time frame. In all, well worth the $20 fee with lots of fun to come in sorting through the many photos I banged off.
Almost a week in Vietnam and the initial discomfort of cultural shock is beginning to fade. These Vietnamese are tough people who have beaten the Chinese, French and US armies in the past 60 years. They are openly friendly with a quick smile. They do however consider (in my view) commerce as an extension of war by another name. Do business here, enjoy yourself, but do it with much care. There is so much trickery involved--a TOTAL, all in price might mean one thing to our Western minds, but to the Vietnamese it means a base price starting point as in
TOTAL + taxes+ extras, adjusted for short measure, adjusted for dodgy description and do count your change. I am sure you get the picture! Taken a few times in my first week in this fair country--- nothing too major, but irritating nonetheless so will be definitely reverting to super hard nosed Chris beginning tomorrow.
After cruising around the central market looking for some candid photo opportunities, I returned to my hotel, "The Light" to await for my tour bus to pick me up at 12 noon and proceed out via a tour group in a tour boat for trip around a few of the over 3000 limestone cliffs that rear massively out of the green sea water of the South China see a couple of kilometres off shore. They are truly a geological wonder, a UNESCO designated site---- and I have to make it an early search project to discover how they were formed. The guide dished out the usual tales of monsters and ancient spirits living on specific rock towers which made for fun listening. Lime stone rock island beget limestone caves and we had the opportunity to walk through an amazing series of
Almost a week in Vietnam and the initial discomfort of cultural shock is beginning to fade. These Vietnamese are tough people who have beaten the Chinese, French and US armies in the past 60 years. They are openly friendly with a quick smile. They do however consider (in my view) commerce as an extension of war by another name. Do business here, enjoy yourself, but do it with much care. There is so much trickery involved--a TOTAL, all in price might mean one thing to our Western minds, but to the Vietnamese it means a base price starting point as in
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