If you have ever stayed in a hostel, you know about the discussion around the airconditioning. Some like the aircon set at room temperature, a few degrees difference from outside. Some like to set the aircon to the freezing point. And there are people who don't like to use the aircon at all, like me.
Unfortunately for me, last night I shared the room with those who like to set the aircon to the temperature of a Siberian winter, forcing me to wear a sweater (IN ASIA) to bed.
However, when I wake up it is incredibly hot! Apparently, we got a power blackout and the room is at a boiling point and I am still wearing my sweater...
I'll start the day exploring at Tràng An, very similar to yesterday, you can visit Tràng An in a small wooden boat guided by a 50+ Vietnamese lady and enjoy the incredible scenery of Ninh Bình. Total price: 200.000 Vietnamese Dong (which is about €8. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I thought this was a lot of money for Vietnam, but I didn't know the entire trip would take 2.5 hours).
Since I am a solo traveller and have arrived alone at Tràng An, I get placed in a boat with a Vietnamese family, the rest of their family is in the other boat. The usual, but always entertaining, photoshoot with peace sign fingers follows from both boats.
To help our guide, as mentioned earlier the 50+ Vietnamese lady who is rowing, we all grab a peddle. We stop at a beautiful temple, with admiration I look at the family from my boat placing incense sticks and pray, when someone taps me on the shoulder. A Vietnamese family asks for a picture together, no problem, only now all the Vietnamese families want to take a snap together. Causing me to be the last person to get back into the boat... Pardon me.
Tràng An offers not only a breathtaking landscape, with cute little boats making the scene very photogenic. You can find as well the remains from the movie set of Kong: Skull Island. The little boat docks at one side, allowing you to cross through the movie set and pick you up from the other side. Especially, the Vietnamese grandma's from my boat-family are eager to take a few pics with me on the set. To my surprise: Why here from all the pretty spots we've been today?
This was our last stop in Tràng An, it has been a fun 2.5 hours, and I'm sad to say goodbye to the friendly family, we exchange Facebook and they wave at me while I drive away with my motorbike.
Today it seems to be even more humid than other days, as well it's very foggy. Back on the motorbike when I catch a fresh breeze it feels like heaven. Next on my must-see list is Bái Đính temple, from far you can already see the main tower and I embrace the refreshing ride to get there. Once I've arrived at the temple and parked my motorbike, I can purchase a ticket for 60.000 Vietnamese Dong (€3) for an electric train which will take you to the top of the hill. Stubborn as I am, I want to save myself the money and walk up the hill, how much of a hike can it be anyway?
Wrong question. How hot and humid can it be? While walking up the hill I start to question my decision, I'm sweating everywhere. On top of the hill, I hide in the shade on a bench catching my breath and wait for my face to turn pink again instead of tomato red. When I'm recovered I explore the magnificent temple complex, the ornaments and details are amazing and I can't stop taking pictures.
Back at the homestay, Irish Mickey asks if I've already been to Hang Múa, a temple on top of a limestone mountain, which you can reach by its 500 steps. I'm in an exploring mood today so off we go on our motorbikes to the temple. The 500 steps are a perfect example of false marketing, some of the steps feel more like 3 in 1! The view from the top is completely worth it, and even tho there is fog and the pictures don't do Hang Múa any justice I wanted to share them with you!
