Today is our second day in Ha Long Bay. Mum and I got up early and went to the sun deck to partake in some early morning Tai Chi. This was very atmospheric in the surroundings. The views were spectacular as well.
Picture 1 – Ha Long Bay
As we finished breakfast the ship was making its’ way through the karsts to Cua Van Floating Village at the heart of Ha Long Bay. It started raining as we arrived so we were all duly issued with green plastic ponchos before getting on the tender. Once we had been taken over to the village, we visited a small museum to learn about the people of the area. This was quite interesting, especially their belief in the sea spirit, who lives at the bottom of the sea. He also likes women a lot so the women of the village are not allowed to go out fishing in case the sea spirit decides to take them for his wife – capsizing the boat to do so. Similarly, they believe that, should they rescue someone who is drowning, they have prevented the sea spirit from claiming a servant and will have to replace the saved man themselves by drowning at a later date.
Picture 2 – Cua Van Village & Sampans
The village was made up of a number of floating houses on plastic pontoons which we toured by being rowed in sampans by some of the locals. There were a number of children, the youngest on reins to prevent them from falling in the water – children here learn to swim almost before they learn to walk! There were also a couple of small dogs, kept to guard the village and from keeping the birds away from the fisherman’s catch. Whereas the people of the area used to survive solely by fishing, they are now permitted to keep fish farms – something that no newcomers can do.
We returned to the ship around 10:30am, once the rain had stopped, the ship then travelled a short distance to the Tung Sau area – the location of a pearl farm.
Once at the pearl farm we were taken through the process by one of the workers there, interestingly natural pearls are not naturally spherical. They happen when an oyster takes in a bit of grit which stays inside the oyster shell, but outside the actual body. The bit of grit can move around and brews as it does so, taking on the colour of the inside of the shell but perhaps growing in an unusual shape. The farmed pearl, which is made by inserting a small piece of spherical oyster shell into the body of an existing oyster, generally is and the more spherical the pearl is the higher a price it can be sold for! They farm three different pearls here in a range of colours from the traditional white to black to silver and even gold. I never knew that you could get different colours of pearl! There was some beautiful jewellery in the shop.
Picture 3 – Pearl Farm
Once again it was back to the boat and lunch. I think that they don’t think we get fed in our home countries! After lunch we arrived at Sung Sot Cave, which is also called Surprise Cave, our last sight-seeing spot for today. Sung Sot Cave is the largest cave inside Ha Long Bay covering nearly 10,000m2. We were warned that there were around 700 steps through the cave and that once we had started there was no turning back! The cave was amazing inside with thousands of stalactites and stalagmites, including one that had what looked like a koala bear hugging it. Our guide, Vinh, told us that that was proof that koala’s came originally from Vietnam! I don’t think the Aussie’s were buying it however!
We walked along the 500m paved passage through the cave passing many interesting rock formations, including one that looked like a turtle. As turtles are a symbol of longevity in Vietnam, many Vietnamese pat its’ head and leave monetary offerings as they pass.
Picture 4 – Sung Sot Cave and Ha Long Bay
We returned to the ship for our dinner, a BBQ buffet. After dinner that was a traditional tea ceremony, something that I was particularly interested in witnessing. Even more so when I learnt that we would get the opportunity to try mooncakes – something that I was hoping to get the chance to try as we don’t have them in the UK. I didn’t particularly like the mooncake with the brown pastry (which did put me in mind of a Melton Mowbry Pork Pie) but I really enjoyed the white one! I must get some to take home with me.
Picture 5 - Mooncake
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