Cat Ba Island

Cat Ba is just like all the other little islands in Halong Bay squished up together to form one big one. Our first impression of the island was that it is over populated with hotels and under populated with tourists. After seeing lots of plastic chair restaurants and a few bars, I thought, this place could be alright.

Teaming up with our German/Irish friend Carson, we wondered out to see what this place has on offer. The first place was closed. The second had 3 pool tables and absolutely no women. The 3rd seem ok 'Blue Note'. We all sat lined up at the bar and ordered longneck sized Tigers and had a laugh about the Vietnamese way of doing things, the copious nose picking addictions, public transport and food. Our converstaion was abruptly cut off by the rude interuption of ear peircing 80's ballads! Oh my gward! Never thought it would happen to me, but yes, here I am in a desolate bar in the middle of the South China Sea, on a Jurrassic Park like island drinking longnecks, listening to 'Time of my life!' Yes I am a victim of true Vietnamese Karaoke!

But we couldn't stay to hear it, the pain was just to much and we moved on to a much larger bar with 90's thumping music and no karaoke. I hated it, Sam hated it and Carson hated it, and after visiting the worst toilet in the word (think of the scene out of Train Spotting) I was more than happy to head back to our hotel.

Our hotel was ok, not exactly what I would call a 3 star. Much excitement with the high pressure shower. Too bad that it was salt water though. They had cheap coconut nuts and bottled tiger (canned tastes like ashtrays) and the beds were comfy and i could have slept in but have to get up at 6.30am to climb up a stupid mountain (tours not for me)

6am: The morning was difficult. Very difficult, getting up I mean. We have decided tours are not for us. No more tours.

I loved the trek, apart for the fact no-one bothered to tell me to leave all my luggage at the hotel and I had to lug all my books up the mountain with me, most of which are 10 pages from being finished.
100% of the way was a steep incline and 90% of the group wore the wrong shoes. One girl had very bad asthma and our guide who had spent 12 years in the army and smoked alot did a weird acupuncture thing on her, I dont thing she appreciated it but she put up with it anyhow.

The island was very beautiful from the top, I spent most of my time wondering how the lady from NZ can breathe inbetween all that jabbering, and the rest of the time trying to squash a killer bee.
Sam wore his footy jersy and sweated to death, not matter, we were on the decline and before we knew it we were in familliar territory where strangers force you to buy things you do not want. We climbed into our mini bus, the whole 18 of us, somehow we fit, they made us fit.
The NZ lady gabbed all the way back and I wondered if she was going to be sleeping on the Junk tonight.

Lunch was at a fish farm come restaurant at the port. The chunky fish they served us was delishously crispy on the outside and soft in the middle, mmm haddn´t had a nice piece of fresh fish in a while. Carson is allergic to seafood, so more for me.

The rest of afternoon was filled with listening to Modonna songs skipping along to the same verse for 2 hours, to the point where I had to walk up to the fish farmer with my hands over my ears frantically pointing towards the speakers. We taught Carson to play Shithead (which he calls Shitface, very funny) and after that I spent time discovering tiny shards of fibreglass sticking out of the backs of my calves (from the kayaks)
The bus was 3 hours late to take us back to the boat and I was getting bored. Tonight we were going to be sleeping on the boat. The driver finally showed up and he certainly made up for it with hairiest mini bus ride of my life to the other side of the island slightly missing a dog and a small child.