Vietnam 2008 - Ha long - Ninh binh - Cuc phuong national park
Chrissiebeez_NL
Registered Users Posts: 1,295 Major grins
Hey guys!
I know its from a while back but i wanted to share it with you anyhow because Vietnam is such a wonderfull place. you can see previous parts here:
Part 1 Hanoi: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=103813
Part 2 Sa Pa: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=103726
part 3 Saigon: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=105997
part 4 Ha long - Cuc phuong: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=124298
part 5: Whale island - Hoi An - Mui Ne: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=124820
part 6: Dalat - Cu Chi - Mekong delta: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=126400
Vietnam 2008: Ha Long bay - Ninh Binh & Cuc Phuong national park
after returning from the beautifull landscapes of Sa Pa we headed for a boat trip around the Ha Long bay. Ha Long bay is an UNESCO world heritage site, and for good reasons! The area is dotted with thousands of karst rocks protruding from the sea creating small steep islands that also house some amazing caves. By taking a longer trip we could get away from the masses and most of the time we had the place to ourselves.
view over a part of Ha Long bay.
inside one of the karst rocks - the caves are huge and lit amazingly nice
As part of the trip we did a jungle trek over one of the larger islands. Jungle trekking on such steep hills in this part of the world is one the more exhausting things you can do. Halfway down the trek - and 3 liters of water lighter - i really started to hate myself for dragging my chunky camera around with me. :rofl
exhausted, but still able to smile. I couldnt keep this photo from you
besides the physical aspect you had to watch where you were walking, there were lots of slippery parts, loose rocks and large spiders hanging at heads height along the path.
one of many (!) local spiders - not precisely life size but close
After a while we came to the middle of the island where there was an opening in the jungle. A Vietnam veteran lived there with his family. He was allowed to live of the land if he maintained the trail. We stopped by his house and had some roasted peanuts and wild bananas to regain some energy.
Clearing in the center of the island
Vietnamese woman roasting peanuts
After the lunch we had to do a similar trek but then downhill, possibly even more exhausting then the first part. When we were finally down my shirt and trousers were drenched on every inch. A quick dive in the sea solved our over heating and a delicious lunch awaited when we came back. The remaining days were spent canoeing, swimming and drinking beer, playing the all american game 'asshole' with some of our american friends on the deck at night and sleeping in the open air under the stars.
A late night canoe trip
All things must come to an end so we had to get back and see more of beautifull Vietnam. Next up is Ninh Binh, a place south of Hanoi. Ninh Binh is also called Ha Long bay on land because its home to the same spectacular karst rocks as featured in Ha Long. These rocks are also filled with caves and you can take a boat trip along the river that takes you trough some caves as well.
View over ninh binh area, you can see the karst rocks, the rice paddies filled with water and small rivers flowing.
small oasis between the rocks - a local festivities area.
Boat trip between the karst rocks - the water was amazingly clear and the views were stunning.
Near Ninh Binh lies a big national park. We hired a motorcycle in ninh binh and drove there ourselfs (a terrifying experience with more near misses and trucks thundering by then i care to remember). We had arranged a stay in the center of the park - booking in advance as advised by the lonely planet guide we took with us. It turned out we were the only guests sleeping there. At first this sounded romantic but when at ten the electricity was cut off and we were alone in our room with only one small candle, no lock on the door, the nearest park ranger 25 km away and some shady figures hanging around rather suspiciously all i wanted to do was get the hell out of there. :uhoh We cut this part of the trip short but i dont want you to miss out on the shot because the park itself was beautifull. :thumb
large prehistoric cave that used to house cavemen. We were all alone in this cave and we ventured deep into the cave carying only two (flickering) flashlights. The atmosphere was breathtaking - beautifull and exciting at the same time.
outside the jungle was so deep and creatures so well camouflaged, you could stare into it from the same spot and keep seeing new things.
Beautifull butterflies
A hawk on a branch
the craziest catterpillar ive seen to date
Next time, Whale island and Hoi An! hope to post it soon :thumb
I know its from a while back but i wanted to share it with you anyhow because Vietnam is such a wonderfull place. you can see previous parts here:
Part 1 Hanoi: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=103813
Part 2 Sa Pa: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=103726
part 3 Saigon: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=105997
part 4 Ha long - Cuc phuong: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=124298
part 5: Whale island - Hoi An - Mui Ne: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=124820
part 6: Dalat - Cu Chi - Mekong delta: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=126400
Vietnam 2008: Ha Long bay - Ninh Binh & Cuc Phuong national park
after returning from the beautifull landscapes of Sa Pa we headed for a boat trip around the Ha Long bay. Ha Long bay is an UNESCO world heritage site, and for good reasons! The area is dotted with thousands of karst rocks protruding from the sea creating small steep islands that also house some amazing caves. By taking a longer trip we could get away from the masses and most of the time we had the place to ourselves.
view over a part of Ha Long bay.
inside one of the karst rocks - the caves are huge and lit amazingly nice
As part of the trip we did a jungle trek over one of the larger islands. Jungle trekking on such steep hills in this part of the world is one the more exhausting things you can do. Halfway down the trek - and 3 liters of water lighter - i really started to hate myself for dragging my chunky camera around with me. :rofl
exhausted, but still able to smile. I couldnt keep this photo from you
besides the physical aspect you had to watch where you were walking, there were lots of slippery parts, loose rocks and large spiders hanging at heads height along the path.
one of many (!) local spiders - not precisely life size but close
After a while we came to the middle of the island where there was an opening in the jungle. A Vietnam veteran lived there with his family. He was allowed to live of the land if he maintained the trail. We stopped by his house and had some roasted peanuts and wild bananas to regain some energy.
Clearing in the center of the island
Vietnamese woman roasting peanuts
After the lunch we had to do a similar trek but then downhill, possibly even more exhausting then the first part. When we were finally down my shirt and trousers were drenched on every inch. A quick dive in the sea solved our over heating and a delicious lunch awaited when we came back. The remaining days were spent canoeing, swimming and drinking beer, playing the all american game 'asshole' with some of our american friends on the deck at night and sleeping in the open air under the stars.
A late night canoe trip
All things must come to an end so we had to get back and see more of beautifull Vietnam. Next up is Ninh Binh, a place south of Hanoi. Ninh Binh is also called Ha Long bay on land because its home to the same spectacular karst rocks as featured in Ha Long. These rocks are also filled with caves and you can take a boat trip along the river that takes you trough some caves as well.
View over ninh binh area, you can see the karst rocks, the rice paddies filled with water and small rivers flowing.
small oasis between the rocks - a local festivities area.
Boat trip between the karst rocks - the water was amazingly clear and the views were stunning.
Near Ninh Binh lies a big national park. We hired a motorcycle in ninh binh and drove there ourselfs (a terrifying experience with more near misses and trucks thundering by then i care to remember). We had arranged a stay in the center of the park - booking in advance as advised by the lonely planet guide we took with us. It turned out we were the only guests sleeping there. At first this sounded romantic but when at ten the electricity was cut off and we were alone in our room with only one small candle, no lock on the door, the nearest park ranger 25 km away and some shady figures hanging around rather suspiciously all i wanted to do was get the hell out of there. :uhoh We cut this part of the trip short but i dont want you to miss out on the shot because the park itself was beautifull. :thumb
large prehistoric cave that used to house cavemen. We were all alone in this cave and we ventured deep into the cave carying only two (flickering) flashlights. The atmosphere was breathtaking - beautifull and exciting at the same time.
outside the jungle was so deep and creatures so well camouflaged, you could stare into it from the same spot and keep seeing new things.
Beautifull butterflies
A hawk on a branch
the craziest catterpillar ive seen to date
Next time, Whale island and Hoi An! hope to post it soon :thumb
Visit my website at christopherroos.smugmug.com
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Comments
www.morffed.com
By all means visit Vietnam, its a great country!
I enjoy watching your entries as well. Im just startkicking my climbing carreer... envious eyes on your posts
Educate yourself like you'll live forever and live like you'll die tomorrow.
Ed
Your photos are amazing. The views of Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh make me want to go there, but I think the spider cured me of that.
Chooka chooka hoo la ley
Looka looka koo la ley
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Thanks Ed911, T Bombadil and Awais!
It gives me a lot of pleasure knowing my photos enjoyed you for a moment!
I love putting up travellogues but they take so much time to put up..
Man.. putting up these shots makes me want to travel again.. worst part is my girlfriend is now in cambodia vistiting ankor wat and all and im stuck here in grey Netherlands working overtime.. :cry *snif.
I dont even know if they are poisonous or not, i only realise those kinds of things when i get back home. When travelling it all comes so naturally but home i wonder WHY i went walking barefoot through the jungle because i forgot my shoes*..
*malaysia