Ha Long Bay, North Vietnam

This is a vast expanse of islands dotting the north end of the South China Sea. Poor weather and cool brought out our warm jackets for the first time!

Many of he limestone formations have names such as "rooster and hen". Floating fishing villages with their own one-room schoolhouses exist in relative isolation. Beggars in woven (porous) boats accost tourists mercilessly.

An amazing limestone cave in a mountain provided spectacular, multi-colored views (many steps up and down!!). Here in the north English is less well spoken or understood but everybody loves US$$!

Danang, Vietnam

Vietnam is an S-shaped country and Danang is about in the middle. Attitudes change between the south and the north. It was raining and overcast so most of our pictures were not great. We took a shuttle and then a taxi into the city, which is a study in contrasts. Poverty, begging and man-propelled carts contrast with gorgeous wide, landscaped, bonsaied (if that is a word) boulevards and new bridges. Danang is planning and building to be a tourist centre. It was difficult for us to get a concept of this because of the weather.

More of Ho Chi Minh City

The traffic is horrific with thousands of two and three-wheeled vehicles dodging at buy intersections. Today being Sunday, there were weddings everywhere.
We rode on cyclo-taxis through many of the busy market streets and it is truly amazing that there are not more accidents. Without exception the people are incredibly friendly.
The second picture in this blog was taken through the window of the bus so it is not quite as clear as it could be but it it is very representative. There are often four people on one scooter!

Saigon aka Ho Chi Minh City

HO Chi Minh, after whom the city is now named, is Vietnam's national hero. After "liberation from the Americans" in 1975, the communists suppressed them more for about 14 years. Then
they seemed to have figured it out. Saigon is a thriving, dynamic city of 9 million with 4 million motor bikes, and is an incredibly active port at the wide mouth of the Mekong River delta. There are freedoms here not usual in historically communist countries. Now, with private land ownership and low taxes, people are well fed and rice is abundant (and exported). Rice paddies and water buffalo are everywhere in the country. Even Buddha is smiling!
Small fish farms along the Mekong river channels provided us with well prepared luncheon fish rolls in a rice wrap.

Cambodia - Sihanoukville

Cambodia is a largely Buddhist and very poor country with one port (Sihanoukville) and many fishing villages. It is trying to pull itself up but is not quite sure how to do it. The beaches are beautiful. The streets are filthy. People are friendly. There are seven national parks, mangrove forests with jungles that contain cobras, boas and other snakes as well as many birds and monkeys. Shrimp fisherman with crescent-shaped nets, swimming oyster harvesters and net fisherman are everywhere in the shallow river near it's mouth.

The beer is great at $1 per can and their currency , the riel, sells for 4000 to the US$.

We did a boat trip down the Prek Toeak Sap River in Ream National Park for about 1.5 hours and then trekked through the jungle to a lovely swimming beach.

Cambodia is a democratic monarchy but we suspect that the government is quite corrupt. Where would one start - perhaps education, a program of recycling, waste and garbage disposal would help.

Many of our fellow cruisers did the 4.5 hour drive to Phnom Penh and back. Others went to Ankara Wat and will meet the ship again in Ho Chi Minh City. Another time.

Bangkok for 2 days

Bangkok is the largest city we have ever been in (12 - 15 million) and it just extends on and on and on. We could not possibly show the extent with a photo. At the pier where we docked, we were surrounded for 360 degrees by high-rises.
Thailand is a democratic monarchy and again there is a big emphasis on Temples and Palaces. Their kings, past and present, are revered, as is Buddha. The Buddha in this photo is the largest in Thailand.
In this very busy, bustling city there are pictures everywhere of the King.
Now we set sail for Cambodia - this is so exciting!!

Ko Samui