Swimming

After our trip to the floating village we jumped off the boat for swimming athough I got stung by a jellyfish :( I didn't need Iain to pee on me tho as lime works just as well!! We had a giggle!

Vong Vieng Floating Village

In the afternoon we arrived at Vong Vieng Floating Village. There our guide Duc (in blue poloshirt) showed us around the village. It was fascinating to see how they lived there and they really did float!! There was even a school and a pub! They farm mainly for oysters and pearls.

There are about 10 floating villages in Halong Bay. Most people have lived there all of their lives and marry someone from another floating village. It is difficult to get people to move there so the government have to pay teachers double. The children go to school until about 11 years of age then most choose to become fishermen. The company we travelled with provide the village with extra income, clothing and support for school.

Halong Bay

On saturday we journeyed down to Halong Bay passing all the people working in the fields. The little hut above is where people wait during their oyster catching. Then we arrived at Halong Bay and boarded our junkboat.

Our boat was fabulous! We had our cabin which was even ensuite and had aircon! We enjoyed sunbathing on the loungers at the top and taking in the breathtaking views! It was stunning.

The Water Puppets

The lion dance at the water puppet show in Hanoi!

Hanoi

The water puppets and Cha Ca La Vong

The flag tower and the boys sitting at the bottom of the Lenin statue.

The trishaws and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

The Opera House

Hoan Kiem lake and St Josephs Cathedral

Hanoi! What a cool city! We arrived and went straight out to enjoy our thursday night for tapas and drinks. Our hotel was situated in the Old Quarter and close to the lake.

On the friday we went sightseeing heading to Hoan Kiem lake first. Turtle tower is in the middle and the red bridge leads you across to a temple to celebrate the turtles. Afterwards we went past the Opera House then to the history museum. It was really interesting. We left there and got two trishaws which took us all around Hanoi's old quarter and out to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. We went for lunch at Cha Ca La Vong where we were the only causcasians! They only serve one fish - grilled fish but it was delicious!

In the afternoon we went for foot massages and drinks on the balcony. At night we headed out to see the famous Water Puppets show then for dinner on a rooftop restaurant near the lake.

Euan and Dani arrive in Singapore!

Euan and Dani flew into Singapore in June. We took them out for beers and hawker where Dani couldn't believe how good fish head curry and cereal prawns were! The next day we all flew to Vietnam for a week.......

Kota Kinabalu, Borneo

Iain and I started our holidays with a short break to Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu is in Borneo and home to Mount Kinabalu which is the highest mountain in Asia. We went island hopping and chilled out on the beach. We shopped in the city and had a few nights out. We had good fun!