Halong Bay and end of an era

Jun 10th. Arrived at Kangaroo café, for minibus to Halong City. Stopped at hotel where lunch was 7 courses. Robbie and I were given a plate of tofu and tomato sauce and a bowl of baked beans to make up for 2 of the options as she is vegetarian and I requested no seafood. There was also Morning glory cooked in garlic.
We then went to the pier where we actually got the boat that one would look at, and think, oh were not going to be on that. But we were. It was really lovely. We sailed around the bay where there are approx. 2000 little island,s only 6 of which are habited, the rest being just giant rocks as such. We went to one island, with a huge cave, which goes to about 800m deep. It had some pretty impressive formations, (stalagmites, Stalagtites etc. Later in the day some swam but most of us didn’t bother, whilst it was hot, it was also quite cloudy and didn’t inspire a swim. Dinner again was about 7 courses.
Robbie and I again got plate of tofu and tomato sauce. There was also Morning glory cooked in garlic. This time we each got a plate of heated/salted peanuts. We thought that was quite novel.
The group consisted of 4 Aussies we didn’t know (2 couples from Melbourne). Another couple from Melbourne, Darren and Kelly who had come with Robbie and I (from Melbourne), 4 Women in their 60’s from Brisbane who were a hoot. A really brilliant bunch, Robbie got on like a hosue on fire with Pauline one of the Brisbane ladies. There was a Dutch guy in his 50’s with his Vietnamese friend (he was in his 20’s). The Dutch guy was a bit odd so it was difficult to talk to him but he was okish. The rest of us entertained ourselves for a while and then about 9, most had retired to bed. Darren and Kelly had succumbed to food poisoning from the food bought the day before. Robbie and I stayed up another while playing travel scrabble.

The next day we went for a swim. We thought we were going to go to another cave or kayaking but no. At 11.30 it was off the boat and back to the hotel for lunch. This time I said no seafood and no tofu. But it was more or less the same meal from the day before. I am all tofu’d and morning gloried out. Robbie got chips though instead of the baked beans. The Bay was very beautiful but I guess we were a bit dissapointed at the lack of activities and that we didnt get to go kayaking or another cave.

Jun 12. However today, I loose the last of my main traveling companions. Robbie leaves today to go to Saigon then she goes on to London some hours later. Kelly and Darren go to Cambodia.
I already miss Robbie as she was such a laugh. The three of us Alex, Robbie and I often had tears down our cheeks. It's also sad to loose D & K as they have also been with us on and off since nha Trang and have contributed to an eventful visit to Viet Nam.

I am hooking up hopefully with Ange and Liz. Ange has been living here for 4 months as a volunteer and Liz has joined her for a few weeks hols. We are supposed to be going to the Aussie footie game. Oh god what has become of me. I am actually going to watch soccer. Aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrghhhh.