Today is the second day of the junk boat cruise on Bai Tu Long bay in Vietnam (See Junk Boat Day 1).
This morning we start with a visit to a floating fishing village. Vietnam used to have much more of these villages of complete families who live on the water. Now many are paid by the government to give up their fishing life and move to land. Kids of the existing communities are forced to go to schools. It is said it is combat pollution but probably also so they can cater to more tourism on the waters.
The village we visited is small but we got a little idea on how the life is lived on the water.
After a float by the village we are taken to a beautiful arch.
Next we head to a pearl farm. It is cool to hear how pearls are made (Always thought they were all randomly “found” at sea) but really this is an opportunity for visitors to buy some jewelry. It is nice to look at but pearl jewelry isn’t my thing.
After our visit to the oyster farm we head to an island to visit a cave and have a beach BBQ.
We climb a bunch of stairs to access the cave.
We find a small cave but it is an interesting way to spend a couple minutes.
After exploring we head back down for some beach time and lunch.
Tables are setup under umbrellas on a small slither of beach. The tide seems to be high so we have to walk into the water a bit to get to the tables. I order a beer or two. The food comes out family style in the form of huge plates of meat that just don’t stop (think churrascaria). It is good but protein is filling and we are wasting so much food. We have to ask them to stop. I wish I would have brought a bigger stomach for the day. (Sorry no food pics).
While we are eating it starts raining. Luckily we are covered. The rain ends just in time for us to grab our things and head back to the tender to return to the ship.
The afternoon has another kayaking adventure that I pass due to my shoulders still being sore.
Dinner is so so. I like the chicken dish served but we also have more squid and prawn (If I eat one more prawn I will throw up all over this boat). What really turns me off at dinnertime is the children on the cruise. I am used to going on cruises with kids and can excuse a certain amount of squirmy behavior but our cruise is small and intimate in nature so any misbehavior is amplified. Most kids were well behaved but for some reason the two nights I end up next to the unhappy or not well behaved kids. I try really hard to be tolerant.
Perhaps I would only do this cruise again if I had a companion to distract me or on an adults only cruise.
Other than the sore shoulders and the annoying kids the cruise is overall very nice.
I skip the squid fishing once more and call it an early night. I go to a village for a homestay tomorrow.
Growing With Leala 