Early start this morning, light breakfast at 7am then on to kayaking at 740am. Our light breakfast is not what we would consider light, they were even making eggs to order along with the typical continental things.
Only 4 of the 5 couples left on board kayak this morning. With all activities they offered there was always the opportunity to stay back on the ship. It is nice to get out early, no sunscreen needed. These is an incredible amount of trash in the water, it is very sad. The great majority of it is rectangular Styrofoam boxes. I have hears 2 reasons why from guides, and maybe neither are correct. The fish farms took a big hit in lasts weeks storm and lost a lot of these boxes, another guide was when the fishing villages were told to vacate they retaliated by releasing all these boxes. It is not 1 or 2, there are literally 100's of these box things floating around and many washed up on shore.
Kayak done after 1 hour and back on board to pack and then brunch at 10am. We have been fed so much it is a little ridiculous, brunch was 10 courses today.
Time to leave our ship shortly before noon. When you are leaving not quite the same service as when you arrive. Everyone had to get their own luggage to the transfer area after it was offloaded from the main ship. Fine for us with our carry on bags, but some have packed like they are moving here permanently.
Now the silliness begins. 6 are going to Hanoi and 4 to Tam Coc. The 6 people are split into 2 vans , and the 4 people to Tam Coc are also split up. All of us booked our transport through the tour company, it was just crazy, lots of laughs with them trying to figure it out. There were just 10 of us, next cruise there are 50, sure glad we were there this cruise.
We loved the 2 day cruise, but we have lots of time being here for nearly 2 months. I think Andre could live on a boat he loves the water so much. We had a lot more down time than the one night people on our boat. They started activities one hour earlier on day 2 and pretty much had no time at all on the ship. Also marketing of these cruises is a little off, 1 night 2 day is really only 1 night 1 day for them to flip the guests. You probably won't get on the ship before noon first day, and out of your cabin by 10 next day for them to have time to clean for next arrival. Same with 2 nights 3 days, it is really 2 nights 2 days.
Finally we are on our way to Tam Coc. A limousine van picks us up, but it looks like a very old one that has been refurbished. Unfortunately bucket seats are taken so we are in the back bench seat for an extremely bumpy ride. Again there are a few little stops, pick up one old lady, turn drop her off. Go 20 minutes out of the way to pick up someone from another port, this opened our eyes to how many boats there are for cruising, he told us 2 000 boats are at this port, crazy.
Finally after 3.5 hours we reach Tam Coc, once again we have totally budgeted time wrong, we were guessing 2.5 hour. We also didn't factor in the parcel pick up on the side of the road stop, or the bathroom break stop.
It feels great to be in Tam Coc after big cities. We decide to go for a walk and come across the boat tour place. It is 5pm and they close at 5, off we go for boat ride number 3 today. I had read quite a bit about this operation so we were prepared. We knew women would try to sell us snacks and drinks, we didn't anticipate being told to buy a drink for our boat driver, she is tired. Not sure I'd read about the photographer that tries to get you to have your picture taken. Then at one point our driver pulls up against another boat and they exchange plastic buckets. About 15 minutes later our driver opens the bucket to show me she has little purses or framed embroidery, no thanks. Last pitch is for tips at the end , I didn't hear her but she told Andre how much she wanted fir a tip, she got half of that. So it can turn into an expensive trip if you take them up on all their offers. We did enjoy the boat ride fine going through 3 caves, we saw some goats, some pretty birds, and beautiful green fields of rice. Lots of bats flying around when we get back to the dock, only 2 boats behind us somewhere and it is starting to get dark. The ride took us 1.5 hours, not the most comfortable boat ride ever, but the scenery is magnificent and makes you forget the hard seat with the placemat on top for comfort. 4 to a boat if you are Vietnamese, 2 to a boat if you are a foreigner.
Pizza for dinner, ready for a change. We dropped of laundry at a little place across from the hotel when we got here and luckily it was ready when we got back the hotel.
We really like Tam Coc so far, but all we have seen of the town is the 300m walk we did and came across the boat ride. More exploring to be done tomorrow. Doesn't seem like there are many cars here, everyone seems to be on bicycles, I think that is on our itinerary for tomorrow. We have pretty much turned our last 10 days or so of touring over to private tour guides. Maybe we got tired of planning by this point? Maybe I read so many reviews about how wonderful they were? We shall see starting tomorrow with Toan for 4 days, which from what I have read lately may actually be Toan's friend, brother, or someone else, can't wait!
Having no internet through last 2 days it is time now for a little catch up with friends and family.
Todays Pictures:
Jellyfish
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