Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Vietnam Part 3...Halong Bay


Back on the bus for Vietnam stop #2......Beautiful Halong Bay 

3.5 hours of bus riding to reach the 
amazing limestone islands, rock formations and caves of Halong Bay. 

These chicks are PUMPED!


Minh....tour guide, polly pocket player, he does it all!

We made it to the bay!  No Uncle Russell is not taking shots after the bus ride.
They offer you a refreshing juice of some sort while you wait to board your vessel.
Must take little boat to get to big boat.  
MUST wear large orange life vests.
Babies no need.
Our home for the next 24 hours or so. 
Cozy little rooms.

Our next door neighbors.
Our view!  This backdrop made for some pretty
fun family pics!  


Ahoy Matey!



First on the itinerary in Halong Bay 
was a rowing tour through a nearby fishing village.  
These sweet ladies did the rowing!  
(no orange life jacket required in the junk boat)

Pretty amazing to see life on the water.  People live in these
small villages year round.


The group saw a classroom in the village....

And even a pet monkey.

I think these villagers not only make a living 
fishing but also doing a little bit of this.
Blake is super excited.
One of my favorites..

While the group rowed...I stayed back with these little monkeys.
While baby Jack snoozed we played.
Who needs to see a fishing village anyway!
It's fruit loops and giggles for us!

After everyone returned it was time for a swim in the Bay.
Kids were brave to swim in the chilly water!  Even Lilly
jumped in!

Blake?  Are you in there?


Cheers to a great day in Halong Bay!

Another dinner table nap for WK.
Jet lag at its finest!




Uncle Russell was the only brave soul to make it out for 6am
Tai Chi on the deck!

Day 2 in Halong Bay we visited a cave.  Oh Joy!  A cave! 
( not a fan of caves) 
Our team had to climb up and up to arrive to the entrance of the cave.
Here we are going down and down into the cave.
The formations were pretty amazing.


Jack! I feel the same way!
Lilly!  I am right there with ya!
Cave group shot in the cave!

Cave group shot outside of the cave!
(thank God we are out of the cave)

View from where we came out of the cave.Back to the boat and time to leave Halong Bay.
These 4 are troopers!  Love having them with us.



Back in the giant orange life jackets.
Off the big boat, on to the small boat.
Back on the bus.
Back to Hanoi City for a few hours before we board a train!
Uncle Russell ready to cross a Hanoi Street.
We are pros now.  Can you spot us in the following pics?
We are in search of COLD BEER.


We happened upon a street where a school was letting out!  Lucky us!
It was crazy and amazing all at the same time.
We found cool beer, not cold and some new hats.

Next stop train station.  The beautiful mountains of Sapa here we come!
Cheers from Singapore!

8 days til wings up and we get to see these faces again!











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