The descending dragon...

For our last harrah in Asia, Alex and I planned an excursion to Halong bay, which, I had heard was a cluster of little islands nearish Hanoi and was a sight not to be missed while in the region. Serendipitously, my OTHER friend Alex (to avoid confusion from here on they are Alex H., the one I've been with this whole time, and Alex C., our new addition) wound up with a summer practicum for her masters in international health (yes all my friends are very smart and doing big things) in Hanoi and was able to take a day off work to join Alex H and I in our expedition. Her roommate and workmate for the summer, Annie, was able to join as well. So the four of us spent the last three days in heaven...



And I think I mean that literally.

How to even begin writing about the magic that is Halong Bay? Like the magnificence of Angkor Wat and the preciousness of Luang Prabang, I really don't know how to do any of it justice solely through words and pictures. It is truly a place I recommend everyone put on their bucket list.

We began with a four hour bus ride from Hanoi where we met our cruise director, Long. He explained to us that his name means the same as the 'long' in 'ha long,' which it turns out means 'descending dragon.' (he said we could call him Dragon if we felt so inclined.) The 'bay of the descending dragon' gets the name because, to explain the phenomenon of the thousands (there are over three thousand if you count the main bay and its connected bay) of small islands jutting from the ocean. Depending on who is telling the story, the tale goes that the Dragon was either descending due to rage or to protect the area. Regardless, I can see how someone would need to find some explanation for the formations because they are incredible and unlike anything you could make up - another reason to be in awe of mother nature and her tremendous creativity.

We arrived on the boat and set a-sailing until we came close to a floating village. We then got in kayaks and rowed ourselves around the village. Unlike the one on the Tonle Sap in Cambodia, which left both Alex H and I with a deep sense of sadness, this floating village was picturesque and serene. It has about 300 citizens who are mainly fishermen and who have lived in the village for generations. We visited the school (not in session as it's summer holiday) where most children attend through 5th grade. You could hear laughter and chattering from the different homes. I wish I had pictures but I was too nervous my camera would fall in the ocean or end up wet as we were kayaking. It's not a memory I want to forget.

When we returned to the main boat we went for a swim in the open ocean. I have never been so comfortable in the open water. The temperature was basically body temperature - oh how spoiling! I pretty much had to pry myself out of the water after every swim from there on. Then we showered and watched the sun set.



Me, Alex C, Alex H, Annie at the sunset party on the roof of the boat.

We continued the evening with cooking class (Vietnamese spring rolls) and the eating class (eating said spring rolls) and then a seven course dinner. Did I mention we went to heaven?

That night, the four of us lay out on the rooftop deck of our cruise, looking up at the clear night sky and the falling stars and the constellations, and everything in the universe felt right.

To be continued...

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