Kayaking
This was my second time to try kayaking. And the tour guide just let us be wherever we wanted to go for as long as we return in half an hour. We were so close to the side of the islands but at the same time, we were likewise close to other boats, ships, and speedboats. Every time a speedboat passed by, we got all the ripples and our kayak started to rock a lot. All we could do was keep still and wait for the waters to calm down again. Then only we continued to row. We did not want to go too far because no one was there to watch us.
The Cruise
Our accommodation was the boat itself. It was a funny boat for us because the toilets were not having doors but just silk not-long-enough-to-cover-the-toilet curtains. Too bad I was not able to take a photo of it. But the roof deck was my favorite area although the weather at that time was somehow hazy almost 100% of the time.
April 17, 2016
Pearl Farm
I am kind of aware how pearls are made and knowing it did not really give me any impact. However, after looking at the actual painful process for the oyster, it made me truly appreciate pearls now. I can compare it with someone being hurt but instead of fighting back, that someone chose to gently wrap the pain with love, care, and time in order to produce something so beautiful and worthy, that is, forgiveness, more love, and compassion to the hurt-er. Suddenly, I had the sympathy for oysters.
Also in the process, an oyster had to be sacrificed so that a perfect pearl can be produced in another oyster. Ouch! An irritant called the Mother of Pearl, the tissue graft from a donor oyster, is surgically implanted into the recipient oyster. In a set of “operated” oysters, 50% will survive. Among the 50%, only 10% of them brings out the perfect pearls. Whew.
Ha Long Bay definitely gave a unique experience when all the exquisite factors were combined: cruise, cave, and pearls. Plus the fact that it belongs to the 7 Wonders of the Natural World, no one could ignore this place.
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