MEREDITH WISE AND STEPHANIE MOONEY, AUSTRALIA, HALONG BAY AND THE RED RIVER, APR 2017
Our afternoon excursion visited the Thay & Tay Phuong Pagoda and for the fit, a climb up the 237 steps to the Pagoda. The rest of us wandered through the village and met a delightful 95yo man, living alone and determined to show us his home and offer hospitality.
A barge had taken us to the river bank from our overnight mooring on a sandbar, and just as our bus got back to the river bank, down came the rain!! Members of the Crew appeared from seemingly nowhere with huge umbrellas so on to the barge, and back to our boat.
As we moved closer, we could hear music and then as we rounded the stern we were greeted by a huge bonfire and trails of lights set in the sand. Our wonderful crew were there to greet us with savouries and our "welcome home" drink of the day, "whiskey sour". The atmosphere was fantastic, the fire, the music, the dancing - what a welcome, and who cared about the rain.
The crew of RV Angkor Pandaw, are amazing and are to be congratulated. Each member of the happy crew is always cheerful and happy to help in any way - even remembering, after the first morning, which particular tea to offer an "early riser". With this wonderful care and attention to detail, the comfort of each guest is paramount. Please pass on my thanks to Peter and the fantastic RV Angkor Pandaw crew.
I'm attaching a photo, taken early this morning, of the view of Ha Long Bay.
Kind Regards
Meredith Wise