Halong Bay

I've been pretty lucky I think with the tours I have been on when I've been abroad. Of course everybody tries hard to get on, but sometimes you end up spending time with a group of people that gel so well that a potentially pleasant 3 days touring turns into something very special.

This was my good fortune in Halong Bay, a group of 2000 limestone karst islands in the Gulf of Tonkin. Amidst spectacular scenery and fairly luxurious accommodation, 15 people created a 3-day party which brought tears to some eyes when it ended back in Hanoi. We were led by Huang, our guide with a ring tone laugh and penchant for karaoke and palm-reading. Then there was Frank, the slightly insane Quebecoise who we spotted back in Hanoi riding a prostitute's motorbike with her on the back. At the top end of the age range was Than, a wise old Singaporese with a 25-year-old girlfriend back home. Margaret and Michael from Vancouver Island came next, an ex-hippie and an ex-teacher with bodies of pensioners and hearts of teenagers. Gerard and his wife (whose name I forget), Les Francais from Cannes talked mostly to Suzannah, a potentially quite important political journalist from Australia. Heike and Sylvia were the compulsory Germans, both residents of London, the latter almost hyperactive and the former as dry as an Arab's flip flop. Danielle and Matt, recent graduates from Grimsby, added the youth element. The North American contingent was completed by Katie from Canada and Ronnie and Jane, two ER doctors from New York and Philadephia, with whom I have now been travelling for the last 10 days.

We were a motley crew, but all positive and relaxed, each able to chat to every member of the tour at ease. Red wine and Tiger Beer help of course, as did our outgoing guide, but I can't help feeling that Buddha was feeling particularly smiley when he threw us all together.