Halong Bay: Jasmine

It's a commitment to make it to Halong Bay and spend the night on a Junk. It was a 3 hour drive from Hanoi.

It is a well oiled tourist machine but it was really cool to be on the boat and just take the landscape in. 

We stopped at a cave and at a local fishing village. Had a great meal and were asleep early. Must have been all that fresh, salt air. It was a great birthday. 

Lord Buddha's 2,555th Birthday

In celebration of Buddha's Birthday, after prayer, the monks lead a procession around the temple three times holding candles and then putting them on various alters around the grounds.  It was raining, and quiet and a very nice way to celebrate a birthday.