Friday 24rd February

(Cont. from Page 3).....Occasionally the subject is not the scenery. Near the salt marsh goats appear around an otherwise deserted piece of road. Around lunchtime I pass through a small village as children come out of school. They wave and spontaneously I stop to their pleasure as they approach wanting to shake hands. I almost forget I am in Vietnam. Within my lifetime terrible things happened not far from here. To this generation that’s all forgotten; the way it should be! I make my way the ferry port at the north of the island at Ben Tuan Du Lich.
Cat Ba National Park........Ahead I see a sign welcoming visitors to Cat Ba National Park. As I enter the park the jagged karsk limestone peak srise all around creating a stunning backdrop to the winding road ahead. I stop at a sign advertising the presence of Hoa Cuong cave. I head up the slip road, park the bike and climb some steps. The entrance to to the cave is locked but provided a wonderful view across the valley. Soon a young fellow arrives with a key. He will be my guide for the next 15 minutes. He does his level best to communicate with me but limestone caves are not the best subject to start learning Vietnamese. Still what I see my torchlight is impressive. I pay him 20,000 dong and proceed to the pier. Here I catch a real view of Cat Ba Bay. The pier is practically deserted; the morning travelers having departed, the latest arrivals yet to appear. After my usual photographic record I head back to Cat Ba town stopping on the way for noodles and a beer. That proved ill advised due to lack of quality and selection and certainly overpriced. I would therefore only recommend Cat Ba town for dining. I return to Duc Tuan Hotel. In late afternoon I explore the bays to the east of the town, practically deserted but nevertheless offering excellent views of the islands. As dusk falls I look for somewhere to eat only to find I have arrived at a seafood restaurant owned by Me Zoom. At this point I have my mind on the following day and have regrettably decided not to take the customary boat trip around the islands partly due to the overcast cool conditions and partly because of cost. That idea is about to change. I am approached by a colleague of Mr Zoom who goes by the name of Captain Jack. He explains he has a party of eight going on a one-day trip to the islands in the morning. As I continue to show a certain disinterest he offers the trip to me for just $16 including lunch cooked on the boat. At this price it becomes a done deal whatever the weather. Diner consumed I return to Duc Tuan, give back the motorbike and settle for an early night wondering whether tomorrow will prove the highlight of this tour. (Cont. on Page 5)