Today is the day where we all woke up the earliest for this trip. It was so early that we were the first few to have the breakfast provided by the hotel (6:30am to be exact). And the reason for waking up so early? Because today we are going for a 2 Days 1 Night Cruise to Halong Bay with Oriental Sails and the hotel pick-up provided by Oriental Sails is picking us up from our hotel at 8:15am.
Managed to check out at 8am after making payment for all the extra-charges and waited at the lobby for our ride, which came really on time. We were greeted by our Tour Guide, Jackie, who helped to load our luggage up onto the minibus.
 |
| Morning Situation: Waiting for our ride. |
GOOD BYE, MK PREMIER.
You have been really nice for the past 2 days.
After picking up 2 other girls (total 8 of us), it is the beginning of our 3.5hours (estimated) bus journey to Hong Gai Tourist Wharf. But I am pretty sure it took longer than usual because it was pouring down heavily when we were halfway to our check-point (hence, I didn't manage to take a photo of the place).
Reached Hong Gai Tourist Wharf approximately at 1pm, and the rain got a lot smaller to the point it was only a light drizzle. Took a rest at the Oriental Sails Lounge, where we were served a glass of ginger tasting drink (I didn't like it) and waited for another group to join us before we embark onto our cruise through a tender.
We left our luggage in the storage room and proceeded to the dining area for a short briefing by our tour guide, followed by lunch onboard with a beautiful view of the Bai Tu Long Bay.
 |
| Dining area onboard our cruise ship. |
After lunch, we finally checked into our rooms with our luggage and bags. The crew were very friendly and helpful in helping everyone to shift their luggage from the storage room into their respective rooms.
We were given the first two rooms that were opposite each other, but were at the far end from the dining area, nearest to the wheelhouse and the front deck.
The rooms are honestly smaller than what I had in mind, then again, I guess it is considerably big for a room on a medium-sized cruise ship. But that was not the reason why I chose Oriental Sails.
The reason why I chose Oriental Sails was because of the windows they had in the room & toilet (mainly because of the window in the toilet). Seriously, I think the window looks like a giant moving painting hanging on the wall together with the view outside it.
After settling down, we went to tour around our cruise ship. It was my first time on a cruise (as far as I can remember) and this is totally amazing! Went up to the top deck to take some photos of the amazing view. I must really say, the view took part of my breath away. It is really like "as seen in the movies".
 |
| Boyfriend enjoying the view. ♥ |
Talking about movies, I was told that the movie "King Kong" had some scenes shot here in Halong Bay. Mystical indeed.
Our first activity for the day would be a trip around Vung Vieng Fishing Village either by a bamboo boat rowed by the locals or by kayaking. Really wanted to kayak because it has been a long time since I last kayak, but my parents wanted to sit the bamboo boat, so we accompanied them to sit the bamboo boat together. It was so relaxing, but I am pretty sure that it is really tiring having to row the bamboo boats to and fro every day with tourists on.
Most of the villagers have been moved to live on shore by the government earlier this year as the area is to be preserved as a historical site. Hence, the Vung Vieng Village we visited were mainly isolated, with only a few fishermen still living on the floating village as they still fish in the area for a living. However, by the end of 2017, all the villagers will have to be moved to land, which honestly is a little sad to me. It is as though a way of living is going to vanish.
In all, this boat trip really is eye-opening. Plus, we don't get to be away from the bustling city life often, and be so near to mother nature, with all the greenery and fresh air. Maybe the next time we are here, I will try kayaking instead.
As the boat comes to an end, the rain starts to get a little heavier. We ended our trip at the Pearl Farm, they showed us how pearls are being harvested. Then again, we didn't buy any products from there because the pearls' products were actually quite pricey. We had a look and waited for our tender to head back to our cruise ship.
Next activity was the long-awaited cooking class. No idea why recently I really want to learn how to cook more dishes. Anyway, we were taught how to make the famous Vietnamese Spring Rolls and it's sauce. YUM.
 |
| All the ingredients in one bowl. |
 |
| Mixing it all together. |
I must say, Vietnamese Spring Rolls are super yummy, especially when you eat it together with the sauce that comes along separately. Then again, I am pretty sure it is also because of the quality of the ingredients they use. Especially the rice paper.
Anyway, our cruise anchored down at Cong Do Area, a location which is not overly crowded with other cruise ship. Next activity planned would be dinner, followed by free leisure time, whereby they have Karaoke available if anyone is in the mood to sing. But on board our ship, many headed off to their room to rest for the night.
My parents were one of those who went back to their room to wash up and rest, but I went to Squid Fishing with boyfriend and we were the first to start fishing for the squids after Jackie taught us how. We were told and were well aware that catching a squid in the area is not that easy as many people tried and have failed. Only a few lucky ones managed to catch one, and on board of the numerous tours Jackie went on, only 1 of the passengers managed to catch a squid.
But a miracle happened and this is something that I really want to remember forever.
More than an hour into squid fishing, nothing was caught on hook, and I was about to give it up like the others. Technically, we were here the longest because we came first. The rest who came after already gave up and went back inside.
So, as we got further into the night and when there was still no squid to be seen, I told boyfriend that I give up because I am so sleepy and a little disappointed because I actually used a birthday wish on this (yes, I believe in wishes).
Seeing how disappointed I was, boyfriend didn't want to give up so he asked me to give it more time, which I did. I told him that I would wait until 11pm, and if by then there is nothing, we are heading back to our room to wash up and sleep. He agreed, and since I was really tired, I handed my rod to boyfriend and he used 2 rods to fish. HAHAHA!
Then, it happened.
At 10:59pm, a squid was caught on one of our hook!! LEGIT! I was squealing in joy. Jackie helped us to unhook the squid and placed it in a metal bowl with water. I was really thrilled. I took the bowl, ran and knocked on my parents' room, accidentally woke them up from their sleep, just to show them. But as we looked at the poor squid in the bowl, we felt sorry for it and we let it back into the ocean to where it belonged.
Yes I know, after all the perseverance, we finally caught one and yet we let it back into the ocean. But at the very least, we've got a photo together with the squid and that is good enough.
No comments:
Post a Comment