Palace Heaven

Halong Bay, Vietnam Natural Enchantment

Halong Bay, Vietnam Natural Enchantment executive summary by darmansjah

After breakfast and check out at a hotel in Hanoi old town, a trip to Halong Bay was begun that morning. Tour to one of the magical, distant sites in the world of nature, which was included in the list of candidates for New 7 Wonders of Nature, it passed through a wide street with no beautiful scenery, and even tend to be boring.

We travel by car L-300 to the north of Hanoi. In the car there is, among others, Din Huyen Tram, employees Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Vietnam, two staff of the Indonesian Embassy in Hanoi, the mother Ana and Pak Nyoman. Tram was a guide.

Roads are impassable and highways wide enough, but dusty. One of the worst affected city was covered in dust from Cam Pha. Homes and other buildings, roads and crops here covered in dust. Residents wearing hats and masks.

cham pha

"Dust from the coal mining industry," said Tram.

Boredom on the road can be driven by listening to music from your iPod, chatting, reading books about Vietnam, or sleep. Before passing Cam Pha, a car stopped at a craft center stone carving, sculpture, painting, and weaving. Workers are physically disabled.

hanoi old town

The car we were riding finally drove again. Not long ago, we've entered the border province of Ninh Quanh. Views of the beach began to entertain a previous trip flat. Three hours after leaving Hanoi with a distance of about 100 miles, we arrived at Pier Bay Cay.

upper province of Ninh Quanh

It appears there are many wooden boat (junk). One of them is ready to transport us to the rocky island, Thien Cung Grotto, to see the stalactite and stalagmite caves the largest in the region, Don Tien Chung. When in "open sea", it appears a lot of junk with the model, size, and different types.

tien chung grotto

Timber ships with a floor, such as carrying at the time, for day-tour that only serves lunch on the ship and returned to Hanoi in the afternoon, or staying at hotels in the city of Halong Bay. This vessel capacity of 20 persons.

 There are also ships with two floors, only to private cruise with restaurants on both floors. There is a ship that became a hotel, cabin type were undifferentiated. The fares are very expensive. Can more than one million dong or US$ 70 per night.

Coral island

The journey begins with jubilation witnessed the beautiful panorama of the bay. In this bay, with an area of approximately 1,500 square, scattered about 1996 coral islands and some of them appear green. This stretch of one of the world heritage by the Organization of Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Suddenly the fog blocking views of inter-island.

According to the literature on Halong Bay, on the islands there are 435 plant species, 22 species of marine animals, and 76 species of birds. In addition there are 28 varieties of mangroves, 315 species of fish and 545 species of invertebrate animals and 234 species of coral. "Halong Bay is a beautiful natural painting," said Tram.

The ship that we were riding quite comfortably. About 30 minutes of sailing, Tram said, "That Thien Cung Grotto, our goal this time. " Thien Cung means the palace of heaven. The island seemed covered with dense forest. Once down to the pier, climbed the 51 rungs of natural stones, we arrived at a narrow door into the cave.

tien chung grotto carve

Everyone looked stunned, stunned for a moment, so knowing he was already inside the cave. Involves the layout of the artificial lights that highlight the most salient parts of the cave legend and character, natural feel as if the fantasy world of animation. 11000-700000 age coral island that year.

According to the legend that is spoken by one of the guides at the cave, a young woman named May caught the eyes of the Dragon Prince and he fell in love with him. They got engaged. The wedding lasted for seven days and seven nights at the center of the cave.

In honor of their wedding, small dragons flying through a stalactite and stalagmite. Elephants, too, happy dance, snake wrapped himself like he was spinning cloth around the tree. A big elephant, dressed neatly, waiting for transporting the bride. The genie from various parts also come to attend the banquet.
"All scenes that have now been fossilized in the cave," says Ms. Thuy, a guide at the cave.

In the middle of the cave there are four large pillars supporting the "roof of heaven." . From the bottom to the top of many odd pictures of birds, fish, flowers, and even a view of human life. On the north wall of the cave a group of fairies seem to dance and sing to honor marriage.

Arriving at the last part of the cave, it seems natural water flow from the rock hole. There are three small ponds of clear water. In the small pond was littered with coins dollars and dong. According to legend, bathed in the pool week 100 children, making them wise and happy being a teenager.

One passage out of the cave is a way for May along with 50 children took to the new crop land. The remaining 50 children, along with their father, were left to rebuild the country of the original.

pier bay chay

Lunch on board that evening was delicious. Special menu, not far from the fish. After eating, the boat took us past the reefs are extraordinarily beautiful. Under overcast skies and cold with the weather, temperature around 16 degrees Celsius, we get to the hotel a place to stay for one night before heading home. (CAL)