Cat Ba Island

So we are alive...we are on Cat Ba island which is just south of Ha Long bay in Vietnam. Very hot here- and apparently the begining of the dry season even though in Da Nang, 1/2 way down Vietnam, the monsoons are coming. We got here by 2 bus rides, a boat then another bus ride and it was well worth it even if the guy on the boat made us sit in the back outside the cabin. We originally thought we would go to Ha Long Bay and do one of the very popular and touristy boat rides, but decided on our own would be much more exciting. We are staying in Cat Ba town at a hotel with a nice view for $10 a night split between the 3 of us, which has been the cost of most hotels. We hiked today in the forest and saw 2 spiders as big as my hand- which thoroughly frightened me and even Lauren...hehehe. We layed on the beach and all got a massage from some male which was a little odd, but he was very good. He could pop any joint in your body- and he did them all- with the flick of his hand. When he went for my neck I got a little freaked out, but my head is still on and I am not a paraplegic yet.
Lauren is pretty sure she accomplished her dream of getting a tape worm...I'm soo jealous. We've affectionately named him Wilmer and he had his first swim in the ocean today and lullabies nightly.
Tomorrow we're going out to Ha Long Bay. Rochelle will be climbing and Lauren and I will be snrkeling and kayaking. There's a HUGE climbing scene here. Yesterday they filmed some pro's free soloing the crags above the ocean which sound pretty fun. I want to go but am worried about money. So Alex- we will have to come back and make a trip out of it. Some locals are publishing a guide book for the area soon.
And yes mom I've been keeping track of all the good places so we can go sometime- although you're going to have to learn how to climb or surf.
We'll post pics soon but the internet here is slowwwww. We'll be in Chaing Mai on the 19th.