My friend Elizabeth and I took a trip from Hong Kong to Bangkok in February.
We flew from Madison, Wisconsin to Chicago Il, to San Francisco CA,
to Hong Kong.
In
Honk Kong we boarded the Song of Flower cruise boat with a group tour sponsored
by the Smithsonian, through the Gohagen group.
The boat went to Hia Phong, Hanoi, Saigon , all the way to Bangkok.
We then flew to Cambodia, to see a group of Temples including Angkor
Wat . Then back to Bangkok for a few days, before flying back
to Hong Kong, San Francisco, Chicago, and finally Madison.
A lot of
these images make great wallpaper. Click on images to enlarge.
(125 in all)
Port in Hong Kong 
about 80 l boats in view
We are getting off the Song of Flower, to a small local ferry
going to a cave out in the Ha Long bay. 
On the ferry boat I purchased some local white
and black pearls, not round ones but very cool.
Its a little foggy out. 
The Song of Flower was great, and all the service
wonderful. Great entertainment, very cool band and entertainment
"personalities"
.
..
You can almost hear the B-52's (not the BAND, Kiddies)
On the ferry boat, to see the caves in the harbor, you are
like a dot in the water next to huge oil tankers and freight boats.
in the caves
The local guide on the tourist boat told us the the Vietnamese
used this cave to hide the sharpened bamboo stakes they installed to sink
boats in the harbor at low tide during a battle. Our resident
expert, Mai Elliott, said that battle was not even close to here.
As we approach the dock, it is apparent that the other ferry boat approaching
alongside of us is going to race us to the dock. Neither pilot lets of
the throttle until the last moment, as we hurtle towards the rocks.
I got the impression our Pilot was cursing under his breath when we got
squeezed out by 5 feet at the dock. A third boat in further
behind had the passengers walk through one one the docked boats, as there
was no more room at the dock to pull up.
CAVE! 
We get off at the cave, on an island. It was a pretty neat tourist trap,
there are small concession stands for souvenirs and film. The boat ride
alone is worth it, but prices are very reasonable.
This the Boat's Dragon head. Lots of Dragons out here.
This is a small boat that pulled alongside to sell us fresh fish. Huge
Prawns, Cuttlefish, Crabs HELLO! HELLO! A very
small child hooks a line as they chug alongside, and reaches up to take
money for the things purchased.
We chug on into the mist, back to Song of Flower. 
Cruising to Hanoi. 
Back to the City! Traffic, and lots of it. All flowing smooth.
Every house has a TV antenna. Even the tiny grass huts.
4 on a small Honda? no problem. Pull a
trailer with 4 big live hogs with it? Sure. Carry 11 men in trailer behind
Honda? Yep. Big loads of bricks, Chickens, two truck tires, you name it.
with no laws, optional stoplights, and a mutual consideration for each
other. You just walk across the street, they go around you. 
zoom 
See
MORE click here
about 80 l boats in view
We are getting off the Song of Flower, to a small local ferry
going to a cave out in the Ha Long bay. 
Its a little foggy out. 
.
You can almost hear the B-52's (not the BAND, Kiddies)
On the ferry boat, to see the caves in the harbor, you are
like a dot in the water next to huge oil tankers and freight boats.
in the caves
The local guide on the tourist boat told us the the Vietnamese
used this cave to hide the sharpened bamboo stakes they installed to sink
boats in the harbor at low tide during a battle. Our resident
expert, Mai Elliott, said that battle was not even close to here.
As we approach the dock, it is apparent that the other ferry boat approaching
alongside of us is going to race us to the dock. Neither pilot lets of
the throttle until the last moment, as we hurtle towards the rocks.
I got the impression our Pilot was cursing under his breath when we got
squeezed out by 5 feet at the dock. A third boat in further
behind had the passengers walk through one one the docked boats, as there
was no more room at the dock to pull up.
CAVE! 
We get off at the cave, on an island. It was a pretty neat tourist trap,
there are small concession stands for souvenirs and film. The boat ride
alone is worth it, but prices are very reasonable.
This the Boat's Dragon head. Lots of Dragons out here.
This is a small boat that pulled alongside to sell us fresh fish. Huge
Prawns, Cuttlefish, Crabs HELLO! HELLO! A very
small child hooks a line as they chug alongside, and reaches up to take
money for the things purchased.
We chug on into the mist, back to Song of Flower. 
Cruising to Hanoi. 
Back to the City! Traffic, and lots of it. All flowing smooth.
Every house has a TV antenna. Even the tiny grass huts.
with no laws, optional stoplights, and a mutual consideration for each
other. You just walk across the street, they go around you. 
zoom 