We were planning
to get the ferry back at 1pm, so that we were not checking in too early,
but decided to book a fisherman boat with Jon and Jen for 250,000d
(£7.50) so that we could choose our own time. We left the bungalows at
10.00, to cycle the 6km back to the harbour. Was quite sad to go. Boat
back was trouble free, said cheerio to the guys, then we picked up the
bikes after a taxi ride to the ATM. Getting back on our own bikes was
like getting into a Rolls Royce after spending last few days on the
clapped out Bungalow bikes. Cycled the few km's into town and checked
into the hotel. Nice place right on seafront for £12.50 a night with
breakfast, our room overlooking the harbour. Free Wifi and nice family running the place.
We strolled out to check out a place called 'Fort Cannon',
which was a Japanese outpost in the 2nd world war. Nice views and a good
bloody walk. Had dinner at a place called the Good Bar which was like a
restaurant downstairs but more like a teeny-boppers disco where we were
on the 2nd floor, we went for the view before it got busy. OK food, I
had a steamed Crab which was good, but you would need about 4 or them to
fill up. Met Manuel and Sara on the way out who were eating downstairs!
Next
morning after fried banana fritter and strong sweet coffee for
breakfast we negotiated a motorbike for the day. I had carried the bikes
up the 3 flights to our room the day before, and they hardly fit up the
stairs so I didn’t fancy it another two times, plus the ride would have
been pretty mundane so we opted for the bike. 50,000d (£1.50) for the
day seemed rude not to. Fuel was another £2 in total. We went right up
to the top of the island where we would get the ferry from. Glad we did
as it turns out the ferry only goes from there. We checked it out and
decided to come back for the 1pm ferry tomorrow, 22km ride from the
hotel. The bike I got was a 110cc 4 stroke Honda. No gears though. Took
40 mins to get to the top of the island. We looked at a place called
Hospital cave on the way back - a bombproof concrete maze of rooms
inside a huge cave in the hillside, used by the Viet Cong during the
American/French war. It was mega sweaty and a bit eerie inside, didn't
look that used, and completely empty. Heavy cast bombproof doors on the
way in and out.
We met up with Manuel and Sara at 16.30
to take a boat out to Monkey Island, where friends of theirs had seen
the Monkeys at sunset the night before and got some greats pics. We
weren’t so lucky though and didn’t see any. Got back in the dark after
maybe 40 mins each way. Then we went off to see Mr. Zoom, a local guy
with a hotel and a restaurant in his name, bit of a character. Manuel
had told us that he had some fighting fish so we went for a look. They
were pretty small, dark guppie-like fish with huge fantails. They
changed colour to darker when they were angry and white if they were
scared. You just put two in a bowl and bet on which one wins, they can
fight for hours and it's pretty big business! Mr. Zoom had been off to
pick up some new fish that day and had them all sat around in jam jars,
looking none worse for wear.
We had a good dinner in
his restaurant and a few beers with our Roman pals and a dessert at the
Green Mango Restaurant. Ciao ragazzi! :)
Accommodation Link
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Breakfast in the morning, just before leaving
Whisper Nature Bungalows. |
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The family who runs the place has an adorable
little baby girl. Chunky for a one year old! |
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Packed up and ready to go. Waiting for Jon and Jen
who shared a fisherman's boat to Cat Ba town with us. |
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Boat journey back to Ben Beo harbour.
Can't stop taking pictures of amazing limestone landscape! |
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| It's like the flooded Alps! |
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Just after arriving in our hotel in Cat Ba town.
What a view! |
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| You can hand-pick your sea food here. |
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| Walking up to the Canon Fort. Maybe dangerous? |
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| A bit of historical background. |
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| Model of Cat Ba town; Greg is pointing out our hotel. |
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