Cat Ba Island

Snaking through the trees on Cat Ba Island, reported to mean sad woman, renamed when the men left to fight in the war, many in our group myself included struggled up one of the larger limestone hills. Little-to-no sleep, having had drinks to boot, the hike did in even some of us who did sleep.

At the top of the mountain is an observation tower. Rickety to say the least, almost at the top, with one final stair to climb, you find no stair at all. The last landing before stepping onto the wooden platform at the top is altogether missing. Probably not the best combination. Lack of sleep, possible hangovers, hiking and a safety hazard or two...ah, life is indeed an adventure! Thankfully, I took out a travel policy with the heli-vac option.

Many of the islands out in the bay are said to have been used as hospitals during the war. With more than 2,000 of these islands, it would be more than difficult to locate anyone in hiding. People live in the Cat Ba bay, as well. Mostly on fishing boats, much like on the Ton Le Sap in between Cambodia and southern Vietnam.

On the boat-ride out yesterday, still close to the mainland, I started thinking about garbage. Often enough this earth is used as our dumping ground. In Northern Peru, on the ride from Piura to Chiclayo, for example, in the shoulders on each side of the highway lay gutters of refuse. Does anyone know of any global trash pick-up efforts? Just a thought...