The day starts with 6am tai chi for a few keen ladies, then its 7am buffet breakfast. At 7.30 (11.30 Torquay time) Gail formally inducted Lyndon as President of Vice of The Torquay Central Combined Probus Club and gave him his Pin of Office ( a fluuffy koala badge) which he wears with pride. The timing was to coincide with tea, scones and happy room visits back home. Back on the tender, it's a short ride to a huge cave with several beautiful chambers. Unfortunately it's very popular so it's a slow walk up and down and around, tho maybe that's not such a bad thing because there's hundreds of steep steps to negotiate. The rock formations are spectacular, and there's even a turtle shape to rub 3 times with our left hand for luck. Many simple houseboats are in the bay also, grouped in villages.
We have 'brunch' at 10.30, jump back on our bus, and return to Hanoi, again with happy room/shopping stops. Sadly we pass 2 accidents: both involving motorbikes, both with blanket shrouded bodies, and simple shrines set up (presumably by the crowd of onlookers) with incense and offerings of money. There are cows wandering on the road, a woman emptying her boot of rubbish bags on the top of a bridge, lots of hairy overtaking.....
Back in Hanoi we again drive past some of the almost 4km long mural, then eat an early, rushed but delicious banquet dinner in the fascinating Old Quarter. It's a hour's plane then bus to Hue, with our new guide Trung.
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