Wow, it seems incredible that is was 7 days ago that I last updated this post. It has been an amazing, enjoyable and very intense week and it will take several posts to describe the entire experience.
First and foremost, I love the city of Ha Noi and its residents! There is an energy and joy for life that infuses everything in the city, and it is contagious! Just walking around the city is a joyous experience and the sights/sounds/smells that make up Ha Noi are unique and astonishing.
We spent the last 3 days on a boat cruising the beautiful Ha Long Bay. One of the natural wonders of the world, the Bay has been designated a UNESCO Heritage site and is afforded some protection from environmental destruction. How to describe the beauty of this area of water and limestone islands? There are almost 2000 islands, some inhabited by spider monkeys and birds, but only one with humans.
There are several fishing villages comprised of houses on floats, and the communities are rich in culture and liveliness. We visited one family's home and were warmly welcomed by 3 generations of fishermen. We were blessed by a full moon and beautiful weather, so kayaking around the islands and through a succession of limestone caves was tiring but very interesting.
The highlight of the trip was a visit to a tiny Buddhist temple on Ancestor's Day. The entire crew of our ship and the 5 guests (Greg, Harold, Carolyn and Mike) paid homage to our departed but much-loved ancestors by lighting incense and leaving an offering of fruit and money. We were greeted on the beach by 3 sacred cats who accompanied us in our worship. It was beautiful and very meaningful for all of us.
