A little swim in the Indian Ocean

A very long flat ride today, about 83km/51 miles in total, but it was a ride of two halves.

Once again ( are you fed up of this opening line yet??) it was a beautiful start to the morning, spinning along empty roads, a cool breeze and the promise of a (too) warm day ahead.

I stop so often to photograph that I am usually the last one, keeps the sweeper busy!

The back water is a hive of activity with boats and craft of varying sizes. Fortunately Kerela has a high Christian population so there are no Sacred Cows wandering all over the road for us to dodge.

We are also taking a coastal road which is quieter, just local traffic, motorbikes and tuctucks.

One of our regrouping stops was by this beak.  Miles and miles of golden sand and no one else in site. I was needed just to keep this palm tree from falling down....

Our destination was Fort Cochin which involved two ferry crossings.

Here we are waiting for the ferry, the bike decorations are care of Lorraine for, a gift for Valentine's Day.

It's a small ferry when it arrives from the otherside, everyone lines up and then it's a free for all...fortunately we all make it on board for the short crossing to the other side.

We get a closer view of life on the water

I seem to think I took a similar photograph of a man in a boat when I was in Vietnam hanging over a bridge!

The lunch stop was a delight.  Quite long and the chance for a quick swim in the Indian Ocean.  Utter bliss....warm and salty, it's just the thing when you've had a long hot ride.

But before too long we are off again, there's another ferry to catch and many more miles to pedal.

How Rindu manages to keep cool in all that gear is beyond me!

The final few miles are a pleasant ride along the back waters, sandwiched between the sea and the lakes and canals.  Then it was back onto the busy main road for the last 10 km.  Always needs your full concentration,

so it was a delight to reach our next overnight stop - a home- stay in Fort Cohin.  Air conditioned and the novelty of mosquito nets!

Halong Bay: part 2

So where are we heading?  To here, just past the flame tree,

 

then down the jetty, right to the very end.  See what's waiting for us? There - just on the very edge.

Our very own cruiser, more crew than passengers and ours for the next day and night.  We are all onboard...

 

 

...the lunch table is set and

 

my cabin ready.

A quick peep out of the window, to see what I can see.

But I don't dally too long, a fabulous fresh seafood lunch is ready and waiting.

What are these, cray fish?  Whatever, they're jolly tasty with freshly squeezed lime and seasoning.

As we eat we cruise through one of the most stunningly beautiful sights in SE Asia.  There are over 3000 limestone peaks rising directly from the sea, a beautiful emerald green ( despite it looking murky in most of my photographs!)

 

Round and round we go, with many small fishing boats trawling their nets.

 

There are monkeys on many of the peaks, I wonder if we shall spy some?

It really is most pleasant

watching the scenery float by

with your legs stretch out, toes in the sun.

The gentle breeze is most welcome, especially when you sail.

But not for long, Lám has planned a short trek for us on one of the islands.

It's over 40C, so climbing 90 stone steps wasn't quite what we had had inmind,

But is was a bit cooler in the shade, and 

the views were amazing

Then our destination was in front of us, cool and dark, Hang Dau Go cave is the most famous one in this Karst archipelago.

We walk along the pathway, through into a cavern, so cool and quiet.  It's just amazing what nature can do.

 

 

 

 

Is that daylight up ahead?

Yes, we made it through and finally we step out from the cool shady cavern back into 

 

the bright sunlight and the baking heat.

 

Wouldn't it just be lovely for once to go to a beach and swim?  After all there are no bicycles now to whisk us away!

Trying to look cool, but really wanting to swim.  Please ....can we swim??

 

The kites are playing the thermals, it really is SO hot (still over 40C)

 The water is looking really inviting.

Even the floating market boat can't tempt us.

 

And then we spy our treat that Lám has for us.  Finally, a beach I can sit on and

a sea I can swim in...bliss!

Warm and gentle, it's such a treat after a long hot day,

See, even my toes are happy!

 

After an hour or so, our boat comes back for us,

so we carefully wash our sandy feet and

go onboard and put them up whilst we cruise around to another secluded bay.

 

Watching the fishermen haul in their catch,

 

and wonder at the majesty of the scenery as we float on by.

The kite comes to check us out again,

and another market boat passes us by.

We're excited by our next adventure, kayaking around the amazing karst scenery and through the arches into hidden lakes as the sun slowly sets on this magical place.