Australia - Perth

11/08 - 14/08

We arrive in Perth and get hold of Bev who gave us directions to where they stay.  Unbelievable we didn't get TOO lost!  We almost followed directions!

Bev took us to the shops in the afternoon where we managed to buy some "Genuine Fake" Ugg boots!  Ooooh yes now feet can stay warm!

Next day Frank visited the dentist.  He had broken his tooth while eating a lamb chop about 2 weeks before and the pain had finally worn him down!  He wanted the tooth pulled but the dentist said it would be better just to fill it rather.  Hey that option was cheaper too.  Ouch dentists are expensive here in Oz - We have since found out that a lot of Ozzies travel to places like Thailand if they have to have serious dentistry done! Anyway Frank is back to normal now.

I cooked supper for Bev & Gordon as the day before was their wedding anniversary.  Bev was made to put her feet up and chill for an evening!

Right, Friday we went to Whiteman Park.  Frank spent over 2 hours in the Motor Museum.  Alright, if I have to, I will admit to it being very interesting!  Yes, believe it or not, I really did enjoy it!!!

We then went onto the animals.  I fed kangaroos, stroked a wombat and a koala, oh yes, don't forget the possum too.  It was great being up close to the animals and learning more about them.

On Saturday Gordon took us to Kings Park, above Perth City.  Perth is a very pretty city with the Swan River flowing through it.  Walking through the Botanical Gardens we saw a lot of plants that are common in South African gardens but also a lot of other stunning plants that we have never seen before.  What a tranquil and scenic park it was.

Now we drive onto Freemantle where we had the most delicious fish 'n chips.  Afterwards we walked through the old jail and then made our way to the market.  What an interesting place.  The old buildings were absolutely fascinating.  It is such a quaint area!

We eventually made our way back along the coastal road, taking in Hillarys Boat Harbour.  What an awesome day!

Australia

7 - 11 August

Before I go any further I  must introduce you to our new temporary member of our family, "Blue Trail Duster" but you can call her "Dusty" for short.  She is a HiLux Surf and goes like an absolute dream.  Nev & Debbie lent her to us for our exciting 'Road Trip' around Oz.

Off we go, leaving Dampier, travelling down the West Coast, carrying extra diesel in the back.

It is amazing, the campsites along the road.  You pull off when you see the sign.  There are tables & benches, very clean toilets, rubbish bins and places to park off and camp.  Hey some even have gas barbecues - For FREE! All you have to do is clean it after you have used it!  Really Amazing!  Now this is something you will Never see at home!

We make our way to Coral Bay where we will stay overnight.  We just made the gas station!  We were both worried that we would run out of fuel as we had used the reserve container as well.  "No Worries" (as they say in Oz) we now know the capabilities of "Dusty" so good experience all round except of course for our nerves!

Ok we are all tanked up and start looking for the 9 mile camp-site.  Hah!  We finally find the turn off and go down this very bumpy dirt road.  It was so corrugated that we thought 'Dusty' might just fall apart.  I know our insides were definitely all shook up.  Eventually we decide, after about 99 miles to go through one of the gates and find a place to park.  Hey it was getting dark and there ain't no lights outside!

Right we manage to cook some food before it got totally dark.  Hmmmm by 7:30pm we start looking at settling in for the night.  Ok Frank climbs into the back seat and I stay in the front.  Oh dear not a comfortable position at all for either of us.  We will definitely have to devise a better plan.

We get up EARLY in the morning, the wind is blowing and it's damn cold.  Ambition gets made and the morning looks a whole lot better.  We went for a walk over the dunes and found a gorgeous beach where we sat until the lazy wind sent us packing!

We pack up everything and start heading back to the main road.  Wow!  Hooray!! We saw a lot of kangaroos on the side of the road.  Just in time, I was fast becoming convinced that these large numbers of Roos just existed in the minds of the locals!  OK I SEEN THEM!!  We saw 2 Emus as well so a successful adventure all round!

Now we head off to Shark Bay National Park.  We decide to stay in a caravan park in Denham as we needed a shower and also didn't see any campsites where we could stay.  They all needed permits which we had to get in Denham anyway.  Oooooops A$10 each for the night, just to park the car and have a shower!

New sleeping arrangements.  We took all the big stuff out the back of "Dusty" dropped the seats, made a bed of sorts and slept in the back............ Way better!

Wake up early, like normal, put the water on for ambition and work out what we are going to do before we leave and continue our trip.

First thing - Monkey Mia.   We arrive there only to be told that dolphins have been in twice already and there isn't a guarantee of a third feed.  Positive thinking!!  We climb out of "Dusty" and go walk on the beach for a while.  Yes the dolphins came for their third feed!  Amazing, they are swimming just in front of my feet.  Awesome!  I got to feed one as well which was a bonus.

We left and started making our way back to the main road, stopping off at Eagle's Bluff.  OMG what a beautiful sight.  You are high up on a walkway looking down on this crystal clear turquoise water.  It is so clear that you can see rays, sharks, turtles etc swimming around, when they are there of course.  No they weren't there when we were!  Pity!

Now we continue and stop at Shell Beach.  There is no sand, the beach is made up of these tiny shells.  Quite amazing!

Ok next stop on the way is Hamlin Pool.  Here the biggest and oldest living fossils dot the shore of the pool.  Stromatolites are colonies of micro-organisms that resemble the oldest and simplest forms of life found on earth around 3.5 billion years ago.  These are new colonies, only about 3,000 years old.  The stromatolites grow here 'cos of the extreme salinity of the water, the occurrence of calcium bicarbonate and limited circulation of the water.  There is also a historic telegraph station, built about 1884, at Hamlin Pool.  It was very interesting.

Ok now time to get back into "Dusty" and head further down the Highway.  We pulled off into a roadside camp and settled for the night.  Oh Heavens, it was cold!  We froze our butts off again.  Nobody must tell me Oz is only Hot!  Hah!! Finally the sun rises and after ambition we set off.  We pull off into a town called Geraldton and made enquiries of where we could buy a piece of foam to put in the back of "Dusty".  Very helpful people, we found a place and bought a single mattress.  Oh yes maybe we will get a bit more sleep tonight!!

After getting a few more supplies from Woolworths we hit the highway again.

We saw a sign to Ellendale Pool and decided to go take a look.  After a fair drive we turn into this campsite.  Wow!  The most crystal clear pool with a high cliff rising on the other side.  There are beautiful shaded campsites, toilets and Gas Braais.  I could camp here for a week but unfortunately we have to keep on moving.  We cook up some lunch and chill for a bit before moving on.

Later in the day we find a campsite for the night.  We are about 150km from Perth.

Mmmmm our mattress is worth its weight in gold!  No more cold sneaking up through the bottom of the car, and we can put all of the blankets on top of us instead of lying on some!  We get a relatively good nights sleep for a change.  All Is Good!

Goodbye Hong Kong, Hello Australia

We arrive in Perth 21/07/2010 and catch a connecting flight to Karratha where Nev meets us.

Dampier is named after William Dampier who sailed aboard his ship, Roebuck, into the Archipelago in 1699.  The beaches are fabulous and as for the sunsets, which we watch every night from the back patio, are stunning.  The hills are amazing! You suddenly get this red/brown rock which seems just to have erupted out of the hills.

The Port of Dampier is the highest export port in Australia.  The main exports are Pilbara Iron, Dampier Salt and Gas.

We went to Hearson's Cove on 28 Aug to see the "Staircase to the Moon".  It only happens on Spring Tides.  The full moon rises at the lowest tide and shines on the rippled mud left, creating the illusion of a ladder.  We spent a great evening with Nev, Debbi and their friends, burning meat and chilling.

We drove through Roebourne which is a cultural town where some Aborigines live, on our way to Point Samson.  The coastline here is gorgeous.  We were going to have their famous sea-food lunch but it was sooooo crowded we left.

We drove onto Cossack which was the first port in the North West.  This was also the home of the pearling grounds until they were fished out.  The town was eventually abandoned by 1950.

Nev also took us to Miaree Pool which was awesome.  You go off the road a bit and then come across this picturesque clear water pool on the Maitland River.  It was so pretty with its long shade trees growing on the edge of the water.  Now this is an example of some of the places that you can just stop at and camp for a night or two.

Off we go camping at Karijini National Park for two nights.  OMG!  Red sand wherever you look.  The campsite was very stark and underdeveloped.  Nev and Debbie were not impressed at all.  They don't play with camping fees either!

We make camp, burn some meat and then All go to bed 'cos it is FREEZING!  Frank and I were awake most of the night as neither of us could stop shivering.  Our feet were like ice-blocks and no matter what we did we couldn't warm them up!

Up early, the morning is more pleasant until the wind picks up which makes it bloody cold again.  Definitely a lazy wind, no ways will it go around you.  It insisted on trying to go through you.  A team talk was held and unanimous agreement to packing up, going to see what we could of the gorges and then head home, was reached.

We went to Oxer Lookout and then made our way to Dales Gorge.  We walked down to Fortescue Falls.  It was very pretty.  It was a hefty walk back to the top.  The other gorges would entail walks and climbs lasting for 2-3 hours so they were given a miss as it was still blowing like crazy and damn cold.  We clamoured back into the car and we started our long trek home (approx 6 hours).

The rest of the time was spent chilling.  Frank also got to potter around with some stuff which was good for him.  We decided we were going to take the Toyota out that Nev & Debbie have lent us and Frank ended up reversing into Debbie's car as she arrived home from work!..............Oooops!  Oh well he had some more fixing to do!

I know I am not supposed to say Thank you but...................Thank you, thank you, thank you Neville and Debbie for allowing us to stay and irritate you and of  course a very BIG Thank you for the loan of the car!  You guys are amazing!  Wah Nev you can't even send me home for saying Thank You!

Well tomorrow we start our "Road Trip".  Should be fun, BUT rest assured we will get lost!!!  Oh well a new road, track, whatever, to travel down.  Mmmmmm the feet are definitely getting itchy!

Goodbye Guangzhou, Hello Hong Kong

19/07

 Catch a taxi through to Garden Hotel to get our bus to Hong Kong.  We ended up getting there early so have to sit around for awhile.  Eventually the bus arrives and we get on.  Uneventful trip until we get to Shenzen, the border.  Oh boy, organised chaos!  The queues are ludicrous, nothing you can do but stand and wait your turn.  Two and a half hours later we emerge, very much frazzled!

We finally arrive in Kowloon.  Oh dear more running repairs on big bag.  The screw popped out of the handle, never to be seen again.

I managed to get a map from a nearby hotel.  We were standing, eating a sandwich, trying to see where we need to go when a young guy came up and asked if he could help us.  Wonderful, he showed us where we were going and advised us where to get a taxi.  Brilliant we were at our Hotel/Guesthouse? in no time at all.

We booked in and dumped our bags in the smallest room you have ever seen.  What a giggle!  Frank stood in the middle of the room and stretched his arms out almost touching the two side walls.  As we had walked into the room, Frank commented on the high hospital style beds - It's the only place to put your luggage!  The shower and toilet is about 900 mm square with the shower directly above the toilet and a minute handbasin to the side.  Oh well it is only to sleep in for one night.  Accommodation in Hong Kong is very expensive so make do!

Now we go downstairs, I really chose a Metropolitan place this time.  I think every race, creed and type stay here.  out we go into the street.  Heeeeelp!  Everyone wants to sell you a good copy watch, suit, handbags.

It is getting dark as we walk down to the Ferry Jetty as I have heard that it is very nice and peaceful.  The closer we get the more people we see heading in the same direction.  When we reach the quayside everybody is there!  It is the "Symphony of Lights".  It is a real treat! Unfortunately my photos can't display the stunning show.

20/07

We find ambition at McDonalds.  Afterwards we were walking in the street and discussing how we were going to get to the airport, when a Kiwi guy came up and started talking to us.  Oooops he was just a slight bit under the weather.  Considering he had been out all night and still had a beer in his hand, it was understandable.  He seems a really nice guy though.  He told us where to catch the bus to the airport as a taxi would cost us in the region of R250.  We stood chatting about NZ (where he is from), Taiwan (where he currently lives) and SA until he realises that his wife will be awake and wondering where he is.  I don't wanna be him!

We go back to our minute room and get our stuff together and leave it in the storage room so we can explore a bit of Hong Kong in daylight.  Another concrete jungle so not surprising we find ourselves back near the jetty.

Eventually we collect our bags and go catch our bus.  We sat around at the airport for several hours as our flight left at 11:35pm.  While we were there a Typhoon warning came through and we were as worried as hell that our flight would be cancelled but it wasn't and our pilot flew around it once we got in the air!

Goodbye Nanning Hello Guangzhou

13/07
Bus trip is pretty uneventful except for the stop at lunchtime!  It was impossible to find out what the unappetising food was.  We ended up buying some bananas and cokes.

When we finally arrive in Gaungzhou it is dark.  We walk through the bus terminus and Lo & Behold we find a KFC.  It was the very best KFC we have ever tasted (we were THAT hungry)!  Once bellies are full we start walking, in this vast city, looking for a hotel.  Eventually I find a policeman and asked for directions to a hotel.  With many hand gestures he was very helpful and we were almost at the hotel (posh) when we got accosted by the infamous touts.

The first place she takes us to was way too expensive and looked a bit of a dive. Then she starts getting in my face to take us to another hotel.  I told her to P... Off (she really was pushy and irritating) so she starts hassling Frank.  Next minute a male tout joins in the discussion.  He said he would drive us (not far, Hah) to a good hotel.  I was terrified of this as I had read many articles of people getting scammed this way but Frank said let's go for it.  I was panicking all the way but he did take us to an alright hotel.  We finally collapsed on the bed utterly exhausted.

14/07

Up early looking for coffee.  Wow we found a place where we could have breakfast and coffee.  On going back to the hotel, I ask about their laundry service only to be advised that they don't do laundry and I should use the laundry across the road.  No problem except it is closed!  I book us into the hotel for another night, let our CS host know we will be with him the following day.  Now we wait for the laundry to open.  We are down to our last set of clean clothing!  Guess what? - The laundry doesn't open!  What a waste of time!

Eventually we go for a walk.  We find a fruit shop which had beautiful looking peaches and Frank got a hankering for a Peach.  I start looking at the peaches and feeling them.  Ooooops wrong thing to do!!!!  The lady in the shop starts taking off at me in "Gooble-de-Gook" and pointing to a sign with funny squiggles on it!  I presume you aren't allowed to handle the merchandise so I take the two I had handled and bought them.  Huh!  Franks one was ripe but had a split pip which had opened the whole peach, mine was still hard as nails.

15/07

Guess what - Laundry still hasn't opened.  We grab a taxi and arrive at our CS host's apartment, dirty clothes an' all!  Eli was kind enough to let me use his washing machine.  Hooray clean clothes!

When we arrived we were met by Dan, an American, who said Eli (also an American) would be home shortly, which he was.  Dan described himself as Eli's 'ex husband-in-law' which rather baffles us.  We later find out that Dan had married Eli's ex wife, who he has since divorced.

Lunch was served shortly after Eli had arrived.   Mmmmm he doesn't like local food so we had Tuna Croquettes and several different salads.  What a delicious meal!

The afternoon was spent doing laundry and hanging it up to dry.  Everything is hung on the balconies - You don't hang your washing outside on a line here and they don't have driers at all.

We go walking and exploring this new area - Big buildings after big buildings.  Grief the high-rise apartments are unbelievable and then of course you have the office blocks and shops.  Renting is expensive but buying a property is over the top.

We found a "wild rice research Centre".  Unfortunately they gave up the whole project as all we could find was weeds, weeds and more weeds.  We were in an area behind apartments and shops.  We carried on a little way and came across a veggie garden.  How strange to find this in amongst the concrete jungle.

We went back to the apartment.  Eli came back from work and we sat and chatted.  What an interesting man.
16/07

We decide we want to go to the shopping markets.  Dan gives us directions and says we need to go to the Garden Hotel and we will find the area easily enough.  Hah!  We are in the wrong place.  Oh well we walk around looking at the shops an' all.  We managed also to buy our bus tickets to Hong Kong, from the hotel, so all was not a waste of time.  Hmmm now the sky is darkening very heavily with rain clouds.  Amazing - What's rain?  I really thought we would see a lot more than what we did in Asia.

Only problem after a short shower of rain the sun comes out and just makes everything that much more muggy!

This evening we go with Eli and Dan to a restaurant where CS meet.  Unfortunately Eli is not feeling too well so we eat and then leave.  Oh dear it has been raining again so there is no chance of finding a taxi (they are all full).  We walk back to the apartment, which was not that far, probably about two and a half kilometers
17/07
Ok now Eli gives us directions to get to the shopping markets and off we go.  Oh we land up just near the bus terminus where we had originally arrived in Guangzhou.  LOL! That means nothing 'cos we still got horribly lost.  We walked for ages before Frank lost it and hailed a tuc-tuc.  Help!  They drive like Idiots!  This was a woman driver so I thought it might be better.  What a laugh!  We give her the address of where we want to go and we set off.  Next minute she turns into a main road.  No problem, except she is driving on the wrong side of the road, towards on-coming traffic!!  I know that we almost knocked over several pedestrians.  I don't know how many close calls there were with the on -coming traffic, I had my eyes shut tight most of the time!  Ok we get there in one piece.  She indicates that we need to walk up this lane where she dropped us.  Oooookay!?  Yes we did find it after walking passed shops, after shops of clothing.

This place is unreal!  One block (and damn their blocks are big) is female clothing, one is men's clothing then there are blocks for watches, leather, computers and shoes.  I really have no idea how all of these shops make enough money to survive.

We spend most of the day wandering around this massive area.  Shoppers delight if you have lots of money and plenty of space in your suitcase.  Needless to say we have neither of these commodities so we just "window lick"!!!

Eli went out this evening so we had our 'doggy-bags' from last night for supper and just chilled.
18/07

We make a relatively early start 'cos we taking the Metro to Xiangjiang Safari Park.  It is a fair distance away (almost to the end of our Metro line).  The train fills up pretty quickly.  It looks like most of Guangzhou have the same idea.  We arrive and get on the shuttle bus, with the masses, which is provided.  Thank heavens we didn't decide to walk as we travelled a good distance and we would have got  lost again.

We go into the Park and I buy a fan with a map of the park on it not realising that a little way on they give you a free map.  Oh well not serious at least I can keep myself a little cool 'cos it's going to be a killer day again.

We are very impressed with the park.  It is beautifully laid out.  The animals and birds all look in exquisite condition.  Of course they have animals from all over the world but we are more interested in the more local ones like the tigers - absolutely stunning - What majestic creatures they are.  Of course we couldn't leave out the Panda Bears, I mean we Are in China!  They are soooo beautiful.

Food was like any theme park. damn expensive and not very good tasting.

We spent almost the whole day walking around.  By lunchtime the crowds had really grown.  We wanted to go on the 'Ride on Safari' but that wasn't going to happen looking at the queues.

 
We make our way back home and went looking for somewhere to eat.  Right we go into this one place.  Frank has a pork on rice hotpot and I go for a beef dish.  They tell me the one I chose is very hot (spicy) so I change my mind.  Then the waitress says they have one that is mild so I go "Ok".  Hah!  I like chillies but this is ridiculous.  It was sooooooo hot that I was sweating and had tears running down my face.  Frank tried some (he can eat Hot chillies) and even said he wouldn't be able to eat my food.  It was actually tasty when you could get past the chillie.  Needless to say I left most of it!

Goodbye Hanoi Hello Nanning, China

12/07

Oh well the last day of our Vietnamese visa so we catch a bus to Nanning, China.

The scenery along the way is great.  We seem to be travelling uphill almost all the way from Hanoi.  Nanning must be quite high above sea level.

The border crossing was pretty painless!  Only problem we had was a pretty steep hill we had to drag the big case up, but we managed.

We now climb on a Chinese bus, hmmm, very comfortable.  Again their roads are very good.  South Africa really needs to pay attention as to the condition that roads should be, instead of saying, "we are lucky we have tar roads."

Oh dear we are asked which bus station we want to be dropped off at.  How the heck do we know?  Anyway we say the one that is closest to the city centre and hotels.  Big Mistake!  The centre of this big city called Nanning, don't speak English!  Even the tourist desk inside the bus station.  One guy there even used his computer to tell me "No English."  Oh Boy!!!!  Then I find a young girl who speaks 'leeetle English'.  I ask for a map and she tells me, via computer, from a library????!!!!!

I go looking for a hotel.  Hooray there is one right next door.  Ooooops they are full! - so I walk down the road going into several hotels.  The stock answer I got was NO, nothing else but NO!  Eventually I find one and there is a young girl in the reception area who CAN speak a bit of English.  She did very well and we managed to get a room and find an ATM.  Unfortunately she had to go home.

I go down later to ask about having laundry done.  LOL!!!!!  Another mission!!  The receptionist phones a woman who can speak a bit of English, which, unfortunately, does not go as far as laundry, dirty washing etc. Eventually after much trying she tells me that she will allow me to do washing in my room!  Hello!  They only have showers in the rooms.  There is a handbasin but the plugs never work.  I give up!!!!

Now we go looking for some food.  The hotel has a restaurant but that has been booked for a bunch of very noisy kids - can't eat there.  Ok so we walk the streets again.  We eventually find a place that is called "Noodles & Rice" or something.  We see a picture on the menu and point to it ordering only one, Thank Heavens!  We get our bowl of food which turns out to be a noodle soup sort of thing with one prawn and god alone knows what other bits were in it.  Neither Frank nor I are very good with chopsticks so we get some spoons, break the noodles into smaller pieces and try to eat it.  The locals are straight-out laughing at us but we were so damn hungry we just ignored them and carried on battling.  Not happy Chappies!

We decided enough was enough, we went and booked bus tickets for the next day to Guangzhou, bypassing Yangshou (apparently you have to catch 2 buses to get there).  Far too much potential frustration!

Goodbye Hue, Hello Hanoi

09/07
We arrived at 6:30 am.  I was still climbing off the bus when I have a piece of paper shoved under my nose.  I pushed it away and then realised it had MY name on it!  Our hotel in Hue had sent our name through to their sister hotel in Hanoi and it was a tout from the hotel holding it.  Grief these guys really irritate me!!!!!  When I get off a bus after Hours of travelling the first thing I need is a damn cig and try to get my bearings 'cos you can rest assured Frank will be asking me shortly, "Where are we?".  Anyway we hummed and Hahhed with this guy until he told us he would take us by taxi to the hotel at his cost.  The hotel wasn't too bad so we stayed - $15 for the room plus breakfast.

We freshened up and then went for a walk to explore the surrounds.  Unbelievable!  They drive even worse than in Saigon city.  Can't say we are too impressed with what we saw.  The "Old Town" is dirty, dusty, busy and Ugh.  We made our way down to the lake which was pretty.  We sat and people watched, drinking overpriced Cokes.

Walking back to the hotel we found a guy making 'souvlakia' sort of buns.  They were quite dee-lish!

We went out later and got horribly lost!  Oh dear, we walked for miles.  The two maps I had were useless...... half the roads weren't marked or else they weren't even on the maps!

Eventually we find ourselves in familiar territory so we sit at a corner stand and have a coke.  I had heard that the Vietnamese eat dog but I don't think I really believed it!  Unfortunately now I know it as a fact!  Probably a bit of information that I did not need verification of.  Went back to the hotel in a very sombre mood.

10/07

Oh yes..... getting out of Hanoi for two days.  We are going to Ha Long Bay.

We wet off to Sinhtourist office to catch the bus with ample time to spare.  Ooooops, what with walking on pavement, off pavement, dodging moving motorbikes, trying to squeeze past parked motorbikes, we walk right past where we are supposed to be!  Only the MentalMantles!!!!!  We walked 'hell 'n gone' down the road before turning around and eventually finding the office, a few minutes late!  Then we are told that the bus is waiting at the other office for us.  No Chance!  They came and fetched us!

After approximately a four hour trip we reached Ha Long Bay.  Now the real frustration started!  Most of the people on the bus had opted to sleep over on the boat.  They were whisked off to their boat and we went to the "Day Trip" side.  A Very good reminder of why we had steered clear of most tourist attractions - The crowds were like overcrowded tins of sardines!!! Ok we finally get on board a boat with us both extremely irritated.  We are served a very local lunch on board, the famous fish head, overcooked squid, Tofu and gluey rice.

As the sailing went so the irritations disappeared. 

Oh what an amazing place.  The beauty is indescribable.  All I can say is, if one is ever in Vietnam and you don't go to Ha Long Bay then you cannot say you have seen Vietnam.

We stopped at Thien Cung cave.  Ok back to the cattle line of tourists.  Our guide tells us it is about a 25 metre climb - HAH! - Definitely more like a 50 metre climb, almost straight up.  We were exhausted but boy are the caves stunning.  Our guide gave us all the folklore stories of the Dragon and Fairy who were in love and had 100 sons (or 1000).  They couldn't stay together so split up and the sons, half going with Dad Dragon and the others going with Mom Fairy.  The hole is there where the Dragon and his share of kids flew through.  Mom Fairy left one of her breasts in the cave in case her sons came back etc, etc.  So I imagine the Fairy become a little lob-sided?!

We then continued sailing for a few more hours.  The other people on this boat were sleeping on board and had just been given their cabin keys.  Oh boy there were an awful lot of unhappy people.  They had all paid $60 each for "Deluxe" accommodation and the sleeping quarters were nowhere near expectations.  They spent the rest of the afternoon arguing with their tour guide, who in our opinion was in on the scam!

We were dropped off on Cat Ba Island where a crazy mini bus collected us and took us to our hotel.  What a nice surprise!  We had booked a 2* hotel but were taken to a 3*.  Mmmmm I could get use to this, it was a lovely hotel.  We had an awesome view of the small boat harbour and on the side was one of the mountain type rocks.  The weather was not quite as hot as usual.

After a shower I went downstairs to find our tour-aunty only to be told that she had gone out.  The concierge told me that we needed to go to the second floor for dinner - Another surprise!  We had some soup (scrumptious), then the all familiar bowl of rice appeared, with a dish with fish (not head), 2 battered prawns, bowl of "Tender" beef, salad, bowl of green beans and vegies.  What a delicious meal!

Our tour-"aunty", Viet, came and had a shower in our room as she was unable to get a room with a shower as the hotel was full.  When she finished Frank & I went walking in the street.  It was a real party-like atmosphere down there.  No vehicles, people were hiring tandem bicycles and riding up and down.  The market-like stalls were all there as well.  A stage was set up where different singers performed.  The lighting in the trees and along the boardwalk was brilliant and the boats in the harbour also had all their lights on.  Oh it was stunning!

11/07

Awake early, made coffee and went for  a walk in the daylight.  how peaceful!  We went back to the hotel for a buffet breakfast.  Ooooooh decent breakfast, bacon, eggs, sausage and all the different fruits and of course coffee.

8:30am oh dear time to leave this paradise.  Another crazy mini bus ride.  As you are driving along you look up and see these enormous rocks balancing and you wonder if one is going to fall on top of the bus.  Oh well back on the boat and we start sailing back to the mainland.  Oh I wish we could have stayed longer!

Right now lunchtime, we were taken to a restaurant with all the other tourists - Another VERY local meal, similar to what we had on the boat, the day before.

The bus trip back to Hanoi was uneventful.  Booked in at our hotel and went looking for our 'souvlakia' guy.  After chow we walked through the streets, which had materialised into a Night Market.  It was rather pleasant as the vehicles had been blocked and you could walk without dodging all the crap.  Unfortunately all the other tourists had the same idea.