Mariela and I booked a budget tour of Halong Bay from the travel agency in our hotel in Hanoi. I'd read all kinds of warnings online saying these tours were hit or miss, but we decided to try our luck.
Overall, it was a good deal. The boat was nice, the cabin was cozy, the beds were comfy, and the food was decent.
The negatives? The water cut off at night, and I had to hunt down a boat guy to get it turned back on for a shower. Our tour guide was also awful - not friendly or helpful in the slightest - and he told us we couldn't get off the boat to swim because the police would give him a fine.
We knew this was a lie, because other people we talked with said they got to swim. The travel agent at the hotel said it was included in our itinerary (and Mariela is trying to negotiate with him at this moment to knock a few bucks off our hotel room). We tried to tell this to the guide, but he'd have none of it.
We met some cool British people our age, though, and played cards with them last night. We taught them Continental, and they taught us Shit Head.
I'll post some photos of the bay when I'm back in Thailand, but Google it to get an idea. The water is a beautiful jade green color and the bay is dotted with hundreds of tall, rocky islands that jut up out of the water.
We got to kayak around a little bit this morning, which was really fun. It was quiet and peaceful.
All the scenery wasn't beautiful, however, as Mariela pointed out a butt while we were kayaking. Yes, a butt. We were approaching a fishing boat when Mariela spotted a women who had just squatted over the side of her boat to use the toilet in the water! What a way to start the morning.
After kayaking we had the worst breakfast ever. The bread tasted like cardboard and the jelly was artificial beyond description.
We enjoyed soaking up the scenery and some sun as we headed back toward Halong City, and lunch in the tour company's restaurant was pretty good.
For $30, I can't complain.
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