Ha Long Bay (CBL)


What is the ‘Big Idea’ of your trip?
Environmental protection to preserve natural heritage.

What are the learning objectives of your trip?

Where are the places you are going to visit? What is there to learn?

What are the roles and responsibilities of your trip in relation to the challenge/task that you have to complete?

If you were to showcase your learning to the rest of your schoolmates after the trip how would you do it? What would you propose?

http://sst-gcphanoi2012-cbl.blogspot.sg/

23 comments:

  1. Today we visited Halong Bay. The trip there was long and tiring, that i slept a couple of times. During the break mid-way, i forgot to bring my wallet and was left out while everyone was buying souvenirs, Luckily mr. koh was willing to lend me some money.We then took a cruise to island and trekked up the mountain. Just before we entered the cave, it was quite scary and i was unsure of what was inside, but the moment i entered the cave, however long it took to get to the island was all worth it. The sights were amazing. The colored lights that shone on the unique walls of the cave were amazing. There were various legends that originated from the cave and it was very interesting to hear. On the whole, i felt that even though the trip there was long, the sights i seen was all worth the wait and i cannot wait to see what other wonders hanoi can offer me.

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  2. I thought that Ha Long Bay was amazing with the many different rock formations that are rarely seen. It is one of the UNESCO world Heritage site, it is located in the Quang Ninh province and is a popular travel site, in which the bay belongs to the Ha long City. The bay features many limestone karst and isles in different shapes and sizes.Ha Long Bay has an area of around 1,553 km2, including 1,960 islets, most of which are limestone. The core of the bay has undergone 500 million years formation in different conditions and environment.
    The tour guide gave many information on the Bay which was useful and informative. Ha Long Bay was very impressive with the good view and did not disappointment after the 3 hour bus ride.My first impression of the place was that I was fascinated by the amazing view it provided. When we arrived at the cave I was not expecting the Dong Tien Cung cave to be that amazing with the many cave formation that took millions of years to form, but when we entered it I was amazed at the formation. The tour guide gave us descriptions of the area and how the many rock formation seemed to form figures like monkeys and turtles. The floating village was also quite interesting on how they managed to make the village float in the water. It amazed me how a cave could form those weird shapes naturally and it was definitely a worthwhile experience to visit it.It was also very educational learning more about Vietnam and how beautiful it is.

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  3. Day 3, November 7th 2012,
    Today , we went to Ha Long Bay. The trips back and forth were long and tiring, I could not benefit from the long trips because I was very restless and I could not sleep. The items sold at the rest area we stopped at were too expensive and I could not bear to spend any money to buy anything… After reaching the cruise center , we went onto a cruise boat which brought us through the Ha Long Bay and to the cave. The same cruise then later brought us back. I find the cave to be very confusing in the way they set it up, I think limestones were supposed to be colorless but the colorful lighting made me think that limestones were colorful. Personally, I think that the trip to the cave was enriching as I could learn the history of the Vietnamese. During the trip back on the same cruise boat, I find the food not good(bad). I think it is because of the lack of freshness in the food because it was stored in the boat. But it is still enriching.The dinner today was the best meals I had since I came to Hanoi, though the food was very unfamiliar, I find it a great eye-opener for me in terms of Vietnamese food.

    ~Timothy

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  4. Today was a pretty relaxing day as we were going on a 4 hour cruise around the smaller islands off the coast of Ha Long Bay. The trip to Ha Long Bay was, of course, very tiring and boring as we sat in the bus for the same duration as the cruise itself.
    We stopped halfway while going to Ha Long Bay to 'stretch' and get energised for the equally long other half of the journey to Ha Long Bay. We came across a vast workshop where people hand-crafted souvenirs and sold them for high prices. I bought a cat made out of porcelain as a souvenir to take back to Singapore.
    Once we reached Ha Long Bay, we boarded a ship which took us to the islands offshore. On one of the islands, we visited a cave which the tour guide explained about how this cave displayed the very early stages of Vietnam. It was all very fascinating. Eventually, we had to go back, and counting how much time it took for us to head back to Hanoi, I was very depressed as there was another 7 hours to endure to get back to the hotel. On the boat we had fun, at least for 3 hours. But once we reached land, I found myself tired yet not able to sleep.
    All things aside, this trip has showed me truly where the Vietnamese culture originated from. I would love to go back here for a nice cruise and an enriching experience.

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  5. Today was a very fascinating day as we went to the Halong Bay to look at the limestone structures. After the ferry departed for the island, we were very bored as the ferry was taking very long to arrive at the island. After arriving, we took many steps to the cave, and by then my knees were numb and very painful. However, I was relieved as I was very excited to see the limestone formations. After the exploration, we went on the boat for lunch. The lunch was quite nice, especially the spring roll and the soup. Then I went to the deck, where it was very breezy, and cooling, while waiting for the ship to dock at the terminal. I was told that the ferry was moving at 12 miles/hr. However, it was still very windy. After that, we still had to take a long journey back to the restaurant and hotel. By then, I was very tired. I sure hope tomorrow will bring me another good experience of another piece of Vietnam’s history.

    Jason

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  6. Today we went to Ha Long Bay,
    First we took a very long 4 hour ride to Ha long Bay and then took about a 45 min boat ride to the Lime stone cave. The lime stone cave was very beautiful and the tour guide introduced us to the beautiful lime stones and told us the story behind some of the lime stones. I learned some of the cultures of Vietnam after visiting the cave and got to know some of the legends of Vietnam after After coming out of the lime stone cave we went back to the boat to have lunch. It was another long boat ride back but it was nice as the sea wind was very comfortable and cooling and the view was awesome and we saw some of the famous attractions like the "kissing cocks". We then took a long bus ride back to the hotel and I slept along the way back. It was a great day and i learned a lot.

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  7. Today after having breakfast we were headed to the Halong Bay and it was a very long hour travel we even stopped at a place whereby we bought souvenirs and bought some snacks. Later on we continued our journey and when we reach Halong Bay we rode a boat down the Halong Bay and we also ate Lunch on the boat. We went around the boat to take pictures and we even had a friendly chit chat. After that we came to a cave and we "climbed" it and we saw a lot of rocks and amazing natural sculptures. Then the whole process of travel reversed and we soon reached Hanoi and ate our dinner. Today I learnt that standing on the bus is very dangerous as it can hurt people when the driver applies the brakes and we well get flung out of our location easily. I also leaned that we need to competitive with other people.

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  8. Trip to Ha Long Bay

    Today, we went to Ha Long Bay for a boat cruise and visit a touristic cave. We took 4 hours to get there. I felt that the experience taking the boat to the islands and walking in the cave was a memorable and unforgettable memory. On the upper deck of the boar, it was really windy and very comfortable. The view of the different islands was spectacular. While in the cave, the different coloured lights that lighted up the cave kind of spoiled the whole experience of being in as eerie cave. I find nature so amazing to create such wonderful structures. After exiting the cave, we ate lunch in the boat. The atmosphere was relaxing because as the boat slowly cut through the islands, and the cool breeze coming through the windows, we ate our food. Unfortunately I did not enjoy the food so much, but I should not be too spoiled and express gratitude to the chefs who tried to cook in such a small kitchen. We left Ha Long Bay and took another 4 hours to return to Hanoi. Today will never be forgotten.

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  9. Today, after long hours of travelling, we reached Ha Long Bay. The trip there was, undoubtedly, long and boring and was took about the same time as the cruise, though the cruise was much better with amazing views of ha Long Bay.
    On the way to Ha Long Bay, we took a short stop at a workshop where there were artist crafting different things. I just bought snacks as i was a little hungry. I wanted to get something for my mum but i wasn't sure what to get for her so i'm gonna ask her tonight.
    When we reached Ha Long Bay, we boarded the boat and travelled towards an island where we explored an interesting cave. The cave held legends within it, besides the amazing structure of the entire cave. After we left the island, we had lunch and travelled around and finally back to the port.
    We then travelled back to Hanoi on the bus, which was another stressfully long journey, but luckily the boat ride was worth it as i experienced the beauty of Vietnam.

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  10. The trip to Ha Long Bay was perhaps the most exciting amongst all the other trips in my opinion. However, after breakfast we had to make a seemingly endless journey to Ha Long Bay. Halfway into the journey to Ha Long Bay, we stopped by at some place for a break. It was then that some people didn't bring money for souvenirs and some food and drink during the break. However once we reached Ha Long Bay and got on a boat, we were absolutely amazed at the sights of the surrounding waters, the rocks and many other amazing sights like the dark and eerie but yet an interesting and mind-blowing naturally occurring marvel, the limestone caves of Ha Long Bay. All the colored light sources which shone on the unique walls of this cave. The legends and stories that originated from the cave were very interesting and fun to listen to. After the visit and the scrumptious lunch we then went around the Bay one more time before heading back to shore to head back to Hanoi for food and rest. If you ask me, I think the long trip to Ha Long Bay was worth all the wait and it would be important to preserve Ha Long Bay for all of the Future Generations.

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  11. The trip to Halong Bay today was quite fun although it was boring while we were on the bus for four hours. We took a boat cruise to an island and we went into an touristic cave. When we were on the boat, while it was traveling, some of us went to the second level of the boat, where it is very windy and we can get a good view of the scenery. However, we had to wear life jackets when we go up to ensure our safety. I really enjoyed the breeze while standing on the deck. It was really pretty inside the cave and it will definitely be a unforgettable experience for me. Some parts of the cave was wet and there were water dripping. It was also a little stuffy inside the cave and getting up or down the place was not easy as the steps were steep and not easy to climb. All in all, I had a really good time at Halong Bay today and have benefited from it.

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  12. Today we visited Ha Long Bay. A long 4 Hour bus ride to there and 4 hours back. Some interesting things happened along the way.

    Every 2 hours, we would have a toilet break at a certain shop. This was a shop which had plentiful amounts of toilet space and a perfect place to spend the rest of our money that we did not manage to spend when we went shopping yesterday.There were a lot of I bought a souvenir for my parents over there.

    On the bus after the first pit stop, the tour guide was thinking we were getting bored, so he decided to get some entertainment. We were invited to sing! People were randomly invited to sing at the front of the bus. At one point of time, Mr Koh, the teacher in charge was invited to sing! We were all like dazed at this, but Mr Koh did not refuse and sang beautifully. This was one of the funny parts of today.

    After reaching Ha Long Bay, we stretched our legs and headed for a boat and were given tickets, which were then punched holes in. After that, we went sailing around the group of islands which made up Ha Long Bay. We even landed on one of them and went inside of it. There was a MASSIVE CAVE SYSTEM carved out by by ancient water! Inside were different structures like stalagmites and stalactites and maws and pillars and pools of water and travertines. I snapped away like a machine gun with my camera. The cave's height was like the height of a ten-storey building! I would never forget this amazing experience.

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  13. Today, we went to Ha Long Bay, after long hours of travelling. As we travelled, I got to see Vietnam's countryside. I was amazed at the hills and fields, as I was used to cities. I was appreciating Vietnam's sights, so there was not many dull moments. We stopped at a workshop of art, and I got souvenirs for my friends and family.
    We explored an interesting cave, after riding on the boat. Ha Long Bay itself was a beautiful place, with interesting sights to see. The cave had legends of Vietnam, and I learnt a lot.
    We travelled back to Hanoi, after an interesting trip full of sights and wonders.

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  14. Today morning after breakfast, we went boarded the bus for a four hour ride there and on the way, the tour guide made us sing songs and I was called to sing. Even though it was awkward, I pressed on and finished singing. When we finally reached, we got onto the cruise and took a boat to a islet which had a cave to walk in. Inside the cave, it was very magnificent and everyone started taking pictures. Afterwards we went onto the boat to have lunch and headed back to the dock and took the bus back. While on the way back, we played many games and interacted with each other and had alot of fun but some people were constantly standing up and needed the teachers to remind us. I feel that we can improve by keeping our body on the seat and try not to stand up when agitated or excited.

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  15. We went to the Ha Long Bay today which was located at Ha Long City. We took a short boat ride out to see a lime stone cave. The limestone caves represent another important feature of Ha Long Bay, with three main types able to be identified: old phreatic caves formed below the water table of the time; old foot caves formed by lateral undercutting of cliffs at base level; and marine notch caves formed at sea level where rock structures are powerfully eroded and eventually reduced to a wave cut platform. I feel that the cave was very beautifully crafted and should be preserved for future generation to come. This way, they can learn about their own culture and continue preserving the cave. I found out the legends of how the cave came about, and learnt that these legends are very important to the Vietnamese culture and that we should respect them. We then took the boat back on the scenic route and saw many interesting landmarks such as the “Angel Wings” and others.

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  16. It was a long and tiring ride to get to Ha Long Bay. Luckily for me, there was a break inbetween the bus rides to go to the toilet and to buy a few souvenirs. When we reached Ha Long Bay, the cruise was amazing and I spent my time outside enjoying the sea breeze. When we entered the cave, all the tiredness on the bus ride was forgotten as I took in the sights in the cave. It was lit with torches of different colours which made it look mystifying and beautiful. There were many legends within it, including a rock which was said to grant infertile women the ability to conceive babies. After that, we had an unforgettable meal on the boat, as well as more picture taking moments as we passed by a few famous islands or rocks. We had a long ride, and thankfully another stop to stretch m legs. We had an amazing dinner. I also learnt a few life skills and also about competition and about real life. This day was a real eye-opener for me.

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  17. Today, we started out early, and took a long bus ride to Ha Long. The bus ride was very long, sometimes very boring, but overall it was fine. The rest in the middle of the trip was helpful in relieving our boredom and our bowels, and was informative on certain Vietnamese art forms. It also allowed us to stock up on food supplies to last us throughout the remaining journey, which was helpful. The dinner was also great today, with a very wide variety of scrumptious dishes and the entertaining performance provided by the restaurant which was enjoyable.

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  18. Today we spent the whole day at (and travelling to and back from) Ha Long Bay. We woke up earlier than usual and travelled there earlier to avoid big crowds like what the tour guide said happened last year. The trip there was 3 and 1/2 hours with a break around 2 hours at some big shop selling marble statues and paintings. They also sold food there. After we reached Ha Long Bay we boarded a boat and set out to explore. We landed on an island with a giant amazing cave there with many lights making it a very awesome sight. Visiting Ha Long Bay was definitely an unforgettable experience and it shows part of Vietnam's extensive history.

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  19. Well, today is a fine day but the rides are horrible. 4 hours to the bay and 4 hours back. Thats even worse than taking a aircraft as at the aircraft, there is still videos and music to listen to. The crew at the aircraft also provides food! I took a nap in the bus for a total of about 6h? and the rest of the time i just chat and played some games. The break in between the rides were not too awesome and also, the price of the things there is expensive. They sell paintings and gems. Theres a bar if people want to buy food and i bought oreo on the way back. The boat ride was a normal ride, it has tables for food and I am awed by how they can serve food on a small boat. Although the food there is not very nice, the food there represents the area around it, a lot of seafood. At the cave, It isn't a special cave, it is just a ordinary cave but bigger. THe stones there are formed naturally and I think that the stones there can still grow. Ledgens say that the holes in the cave led to hell but there was not any evidences of that so i think people just made stories to scare themselves.

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  20. Today, for our GCP Hanoi trip we travelled to Ha Long Bay. The trip getting there by bus was long, it took four hours to get there. It was a bit boring at first, but soon we all started chatting and it became less boring. But after the long trip we finally started the cruise ride.

    The cruise ride was very fun and interesting, and the views were spectacular. It was also very cooling, with the wind blowing at us. And then we finally went into the Dong Tien Cave. We saw the interesting formation of the rocks inside and were fascinated by it. We walked around there for a while and learnt about what the rocks looked like and what they represented. It was a very interesting session and everyone was deeply interested in it.

    Finally we went down from the cave, but the stairs leading down were steep and slippery, so we had to be ver careful. However we did manage to get down and finally went back inside the cruise to have our meal. It was a delicious and we had very full tummies after that.

    In the end, we finally finished off the day there and went for dinner, and went back to our hotel.

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  21. Today's events were tiring and uneventful at some points, but very interesting and unique during others. The trips back and forth on the bus was a pain (literally), but the sea breeze during the boat ride and the natural formations of the cave was breath-taking. The food was lavish as usual.

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  22. Today we did a whole lot of traveling on the bus, almost a whole 8 hours of riding on the bus. The trips back and forth were long and tiring and I slept for quite a while while going there. There were 2 rest stops/gift shops along the way and I did buy a couple souvenirs as gift for my parents and brother. We got on a cruise and it took us the a cave made of limestone which had a deep connection to Vietnam culture and religion. The boat ride back was quite uneventful but the food was quite good. Most of us just hung out on the top deck taking picture or chatting. The dinner was by far the best, not because of the food but because of the performance the staff and a random tourist performed.

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  23. The Ha Long Bay was a natural beauty created by nature. According to the Vietnamese, it was created by an angel who had come to earth. The angel and the dragon laid a hundred eggs from which 50 of them were male and the other 50 were female. There is one part of the cave in Ha Long Bay which is believed by the vietnamese to be the place where the heaven and the earth meet.

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