Back aboard the Legend, 
As we are warming up, Diana and Hector and some others arrive, and we spend the time chatting and getting to know each other better. The ship is only half full, which makes for a much more relaxed atmosphere, and a nice camaraderie among the few of us aboard. Long comes in to tell us that the BBQ on the beach has been cancelled due to the rainy weather, but we will still go on the excursion to the cave, then just have the BBQ lunch back here on the boat. That works fine for all of us, since we are just now thawing out and not all that enthused about a cold, windy or wet beach BBQ.
We sit and chat so long that Long has to come and get us to go on the excursion. Oops! We all race down to our cabins, grab our jackets, scarves and ponchos, then run to the tender boat before we are left behind. It is indeed wet and cold and windy, and I’m glad I have the poncho, not to mention the life vest, because it adds another layer of warmth and rain protection. We arrive at the cave island without issue, and climb up the steps to the beach landing area. The wind is really whipping here, so we quickly walk to the end of the beach to begin the climb up to the cave entrance.
From up high, the scenery is beautiful, but sadly overcast and not quite as brilliant as it would be in the sunshine. But we make do, and take as many pictures as we can trying to adjust for the light.
Climbing through an overgrown fig tree, we enter the cave with its stalagmites, stalactites and artificial lighting spotlighting some of the more intriguing rock formations.
They used to have dinners here in the cave, but stopped that practice a few years ago due to environmental concerns. Now we just tour the cave, climbing out the other end to see the other side of the island (nothing really to see because of the weather), then retrace our steps back out to the stairs, stopping for photos as we head toward the beach.
Once back to sea level, we trudge our way through the wind to the dock – passing this odd little shovel memorial that we can’t quite figure out – nor can Long tell us what it means. Strange!
Back aboard the Legend, we hang out in the cabin for a while, watching the karsts silently slide by us as we make our way to tonight’s anchor point. So peaceful. So beautiful. We could stay out here for days on end, just enjoying the scenery and taking far more photos than we should.
Later, we have a spring roll making demonstration put on by Chef Diamond (who speaks no English) and translated by Long. This actually becomes a hands on demonstration where we all take turns making spring rolls, which are then fried up and served to us! How fun – but, oh my gosh, the food! Dinner is in about 1/2 hour – we’ll never be able to eat everything. And, sadly (or not) its too good to turn down.
After spring rolls, Long pulls out his guitar and entertains us with some great songs while we wait for dinner, which again, is another multi-course affair. Diana isn’t feeling well – actually she’s just too stuffed with food to even come to dinner – so Hector shares a table with us and we three try valiantly to finish off the Green salad with carrot sauce, stir fried vermicelli with seafood, Skewer prawns (the size of my fist!) with cherry tomato and zucchini, Grilled fish in banana leaves, Pan fried beef, rice, sauteed vegetables, and of course, dessert. Yikes!
Our second surprise tonight is music entertainment by Tom Cruise. He plays the flute beautifully and keeps us entertained with lots of different versions of traditional Vietnamese music.
The entertainment makes for a nice night, and a perfect way to end our little Ha Long bay cruise.
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