Halong,Bay,Offshore,paradise,H travel,insurance Halong Bay - Offshore paradise

Torres del Paine is among the biggest of Chile’s national parks, occupying almost 600,000 acres (242,000 ha) of land in the south on the border with Argentina. It is also among the most important, receiving a significant proportion of domes Like any American, traveling occasionally is just what I love doing and I bet you share the same stuff with me. But traveling does not mean that you would be safe. Escaping from our job and other stressful activities is just something that w

Halong bay I arrive in Halong at noon. The sun is high in thesky and burning bright. On the pier countless wooden junks, sailboats,speedboats and tiny bamboo boats bob in the water expectantly astourists arrive from Hanoi in vans, cars and buses. Personally after afour-hour-stint on the road, I’m dying to get out the water and feelthe sea breeze running through my air. I presume as normal with Halongtours we’ll be left “sitting on the dock of the bay” for the best partof an hour, but almost instantly a speed-boat arrives with a flourishand as soon as we pile on board we’re zooming towards our large andhandsome junk, the Indochina Sails, which the captain proudly announcesis 44mlong and 8.5mwide – and indeed it seems a fine, seaworthyvessel to me! In my time I’ve been on board a few of the bay’sshabbier junks. It is one point worth making: when it comes to visitingHalong Bay don’t go for the budget trips! Thankfully there are morethan a few classy junks to choose from these days that are alsoreasonably priced. On board the Indochina Sails, there’s arestaurant, a bar, a massage room, a gift shop and even a library.Guests can also avail of binoculars, snorkelling equipment ortop-of-the-line Canadian made kayaks. As we set off into the bay, Imake use of the binoculars and survey the glorious setting all aroundus. A trip to Halong is first and foremost about relaxing sowithin minutes every single passenger arrives on deck to sip drinks inthe sunshine while basking at the brilliance of bay. Sun-shy, I stretchout on a lie-low on the more shaded lower deck and listen to the thesound of the boat chopping through the waves. As time slowly passes, Ihappily doze off in the salty air. Eventually a call for lunchstirs me from my light slumber. A Vietnamese five-course lunch isdevoured by the hungry guests even though we’ve hardly worked up anappetite. Afterwards, we drop anchor by Ti Top Island. The tiny islandtakes its name from the cosmonaut Ghermann Titop of the former SovietUnion, who came here on a trip with President Ho Chi Minh in 1962. Tomark the significance of their visit, Uncle Ho named it Ti Top Island.Thirty-five years later, in 1997, Ti Top returned. Deeply moved, hewrote in the souvenir book of the Management Board of Halong Bay: “Mydeepest thanks to destiny, which has allowed me to come back to thistiny island.” It’s a small island, but certainly one to beproud of. It is quiet and airy atmosphere as well as its clean whitesand and clear waters. The beach is ideal for swimming nearly all yearround. The island’s main attraction is possibly the pagoda-styledlookout point at its peak. After climbing the 427 stone stepsthat wind up to the summit, one is treated to a most incredible360-degree view of Halong Bay. Heading back to my cabin to shower andchange for dinner, I discover a card inviting me to a wine tasting. Sowhen we’re ready, we head back to the deck to sample the offerings ofChilean, South African and American grapes. We sip and savourthe taste on our palettes as the sun slowly drops behind thesurrounding islands and the twilight dwindles – just another perfectHalong moment. Slightly tipsy after a sampling the wine, I’m happy tohead for the restaurant and fill my stomach. Sweet melodies ofa traditional Vietnamese dan bau (a monochord instrument) fill the airas we feast on an international buffet with Vietnamese sweet-and-soursalad, crab and corn soup, fried rice, BBQ crab, shrimp, oysters andcuttlefish as well as seasonal fruit and green-bean and lotus seed cakefor dessert. With a canopy of glittering stars above us, arefreshing coolness in the air and flashes of fluorescent lamps fromthe cuttlefish boats in the distance, at night the bay is trulymagical. It is pure bliss just to sit around with the other travellers,your friends or partner. Some may be tempted to try anadventurous night activity and join fishermen casting out nets forcuttlefish before heading for bed but I’m perfectly happy to sit andquietly contemplate life with a nightcap. After a deep and dreamlessslumber, the voices of vendors who have rowed up to our junk to sellsnacks, seafood, souvenirs and cigarettes wakes me up. Onceroused, I head up to the deck where I’m informed we are heading to NgocVung Island before kayaking around Cong Do fishing-village. Aye, ayeCaptain. We disembark the Indochina Sails and clamber onto a smallerwooden boat to dock on the shores of Ngoc Vung island where we arepresented with mountain bikes for a cycling trip across this ruggedlybeautiful island, which sits amongst the awe inspiring Halongarchipelago. Ngoc Vung (Mother Pearl) island is 50km fromHalong City’s Wharf. Once – or so it is said – all around the islandyou could plunge below and find a plethora of pearls, hence the nameMother Pearl island. You can also find the most incredible desertedbeaches! From the wharf, we cycle along a coastal road thatskirts the island’s hilly terrain while near the shore fishermen caulktheir bamboo boats with tar. The road from the wharf to beach is rathershort, just 5km. When we arrive the white sandy beach sparkles andglistens under the sunshine. There is not a soul bathing onthe beach – truly for tourists looking for a remote hidden getaway spotthis fits the bill. The island is 12sqm in area with over 1,000inhabitants living mainly off fishing, farming, aquaculture andafforesting. But there are no bars or restaurants, no showersor toilets. But that’s why we’re here: to escape the crowds! Afterswimming, sun-bathing and walking along the beach, we head back to theboat where our tour guide introduces us to our kayaks. Again, taking aleisurely pace, we paddle around Cong Do, a floating fishing village inBai Tu Long bay, 25km southeast of Halong wharf. Here you canfind shrimp, crab, fish, squid and aquatic plants. If you’re notshopping for dinner, it’s fun just to soak in the incredible atmosphereof a true Halong fishing village. Personally, it just reminds me thatI’ve been promised a seafood dinner tonight back on board the IndochinaSails! Full steam ahead captain! The Indochina Sails iscurrently offering a Sensational Summer Savings promotion package for athree day and two night cruise. Check out www.indochinasails.com