where the dragon descends to the sea

Ha Long Bay with its 2000 islands, 989 of which are named according to the imagination of the fishermen (Voi Islet (elephant), Ga Choi Islet (fighting cock)), is a world heritage site and last year was included in the seven wonders of the modern world. I don't really know how to describe it adequately. Even the photos don't do it justice. The bay with its limestone rock formations rising up out of the ocean like jagged teeth extends over 1553 km². We visited Sung Sot, or Surprise Cave, one of the many caves in the area. Discovered in 1901,  the cave was used as a hideout by the Viet Cong during the 'American War in Vietnam'. 

After an afternoon of kayaking around some of the smaller bays, watching monkeys scaling the cliffs and listening to birds of prey wheeling overhead, the boat set down its anchor overnight and we sat up on the top deck drinking beer and watching blue sky turn dusky pink, indigo then black.