HALONG BAY – DESCENDING DRAGON

HaLONG BAY HAS EXPERIENCED AT LEAST 500 MILLION YEARS IN VARIOUS GEOLOGICAL STATES OF OROGENY, MARINE TRANSGRESSION AND MARINE REGRESSION

LANDSCAPE

Most travellers  booking halong bay tours don’t stay in town, preferring to spend a night out in Halong Bay.

The bay has a 120km long coastline  with about 1.960- 2.000 islets, most of which are limestone, with thick jungle vegetation, rising spectacularly from the ocean.

Several of islands are hollow with enormous caves. The largest is called Hang Dau Go(Wooden stakes cave).

There are two bigger islands, Tuan Chau and Cat Ba, and a number of beautiful beaches on the smaller islands. Many of islands have acquired their names as a result of interpretation of their unusual shapes. Such names include Voi islet(elephant), Ga Choi islet(fighting cock), Khi islet(monkey), Mai Nha islet(roof), Kissing cocks,…

Other is the abundance of lakes inside the limestone islands. For example, Dau Be island has six enclosed lakes.

FLOATING LIFE

A community of around 1.600 people live on Halong bay in four fishing villages: Cua Van, Ba Hang, Cong Tau and Vong Vieng.

Halong Bay Tours

HALONG BAY AND CAT BA ISLAND WITH TREKKING

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HALONG BAY ON LEGACY CRUISE WITH SCUBA DIVING

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HALONG IMPERIAL LEGEND CRUISE

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PLACE TO VISIT

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Caves(cave of Wooden Stakes, Hang Thien Cung, Surprise cave, Drum Grotto,…)

Islands(Titop island, Cat Ba island, Tuan Chau island, Co To island, Van Don island,…)

Other bays ( Bai Tu Long bay,…)

THINGS TO DO

Kayaking through karst grottoes and around lagoons, or to a floating village.

A part of visitors are now more prevalent, preferring to enjoy the terra firma attractions of casinos and karaoke after a day exploring the bay.

Kayaking through karst grottoes and around lagoons, or to a floating village.

FOOD TO TRY

All kinds of seafood

WHEN TO GO

February to April is often cool and drizzly, and the ensuing fog can make visibility low, but also adds an ethereal air.

From May to September tropical storms are frequent, and year-round, rourist boats sometimes need to alter their itineraties, depending in the weather. (We are one of tour companies which offer refunds if tours are cancelled).

IF YOU ASK US FOR A TOUR TO HALONG?

Halong Bay is the single most popular side trip, only 165kms from Hanoi. With many tour options and transportation, it’s easy for you to go to Halong city after about 3,5 hours on-route, and then have boat trip to explore 4000 square kilometer body of water.

You will be rewarded with some of the most spectacular and memorable sightseeing of your trip. Moreover, it is easy to find peaceful places to swim, fish, or just relax without seeing another soul, yet surrounded by majestic scenery.

If you have an extra day, you can add a night of wildlife sanctuary nearby Cat Ba Island.

Although having a plenty of vacation or tour options to discover Halong bay with uncountable quantity of cruises or junk boats or boats, and although itinerary detail of all may be different from each other, they all have the same point is that after the trip you’ll have enjoyed Halong Bay ‘s splending beauty. Tour price for 3 days 2 nights is just from $150 and for 2 days 1 night just from $110.

According to our experience in tourism for many years, we highly recommend a trip from 3 days 2 nights to Halong, including 1 night on boat and 1 night on bungalow(in a resort in private island).

Please notice that we offer Group tour, private tour and Tour on request. We also offer tours on other Cruise/ Junk boat/ Boat upto your request. So please dont hesitate to contact us via this IYA FACEBOOK or our email add iyatourcentre@gmail.com , we’ll get back to you right the way!

 

 

GRAIL SPRINGS SPA, "IT JUST DOESN'T GET ANY PURER THAN THIS"
       Summer at Grail Springs Spa is the time to experience the ultimate cool with an early morning swim in the still waters of Chalice Lake.  Explore the surrounding forests and for a unique Canadian experience attend a Weekly Fire Ceremony.  For those quiet moments, meditation in a labyrinth inspired by labyrinths of old, ensures that guests will discover a deep inner calm.

 

 

       Trail rides on Rocky Mountain ponies in the forest surrounding the estate are a popular choice.  Richard Capener the spa's 'Horse Whisperer' accompanies guests, imparting fascinating tidbits of 'horse wisdom' along the way.  During a brief conversation at the horse paddock, Seira and Chris Lopez, a young couple about to have their first baby, told me that they had come to the spa for their last holiday alone together before their family became three.

 

 

       There is something uniquely special about this place. Lucille Necas a guest from Toronto agreed whole-heartedly with my perception of the spa.  "It is one of the loveliest places I know" she said enthusiastically.  "This is my 6th visit and I've just booked a 7th.  When I asked what attracted her here year after year, she told me, "This is where I reconnect with nature and it's also for my spiritual journey.  It's a magical place; just what the doctor ordered."  With an infectious laugh she said "And I should know...  I'm a doctor.

       A Hollywood celebrity guest obviously felt the same intense pleasure when she visited.  She described Grail Springs in poetic prose, "Sacred land, spring-fed lake, crystal outcrop, ion-charged forest, abundant wildlife...it just doesn't get any purer than this."

Photo (1) copyright Grail Springs Spa, photos (2 and 3) copyright Anne Gordon

Posted on Wednesday, 29th August, 2012

 

 

THE SPIRITUAL ASPECT OF GRAIL SPRINGS SPA
       At the Grail Springs Spa it's not just the creature conmforts that are catered for.  This is a resort where health, spirituality and a oneness with nature are premium.  When I asked Marentette if her guests are mostly those who have a spiritual leaning she smiled and said, "I would say that many are, but there are others who are simply searching for a reconnection with self, with mother nature, in order to find balance in their lives.  These guests often discover that it is the spiritual connection that has been missing.

       In an area known throughout North America for a plethora of mineral deposits and a rich accumulation of gemstones including quartz crystals, there are those who say that this environment has special healing properties.  To learn more about Bancroft's mineral riches, hike to the spa's own exposed crystal bed.

 

 

       In keeping with the spa's raison d'etre, treatments include Austrian Moor Mud treatments that detoxify and nourish the body.  An ancient Celtic Bath Ritual is available twice a month during the full moon phase and the new moon phase.  Himalayan and Tibetan treatments, a Hot Stone massage, Colon Hydrotherapy, Infrared Sessions and the spa's special aromatic oil treatment, a Brazilian Babassu Body Ritual, leaves participants feeling deliciously relaxed.  "Our most popular treament" Marentette explains, "is Raindrop Therapy.  It's a combination of nine aromatherapy essential oils, massage, heat and energy - it's very soothing and deeply healing."

More to follow about the Grail Springs Spa ...

Photos copyright Anne Gordon

Posted on Wednesday, 29th August, 2012

 

HOME-AWAY-FROM-HOME AT THE GRAIL SPRINGS SPA
       Guest accommodations at Grail Springs range from 'country' through to 'modern classical' and at the other end of the spectrum 'rustic' in one of the spa's recent innovations - eco-tabins.

       Located in a forest glade or with an open view of the horse paddock, eco-tabins are a combination of tent and cabin.  With a light and airy decor that comprises a spartan but comfortable interior with pure wool Hudson Bay blankets and handmade wooden furniture, these cabins will appeal to the guest wanting to experience simplicity with a dash of comfort.

 

       In the main building, for those who tend towards cosy, 'country' is where Laura Ashley reigns with dainty floral and striped wallpapers and large comfy Empire beds.  In a newer section of the building 'modern classical' is where luxury dominates with special pillows imported from Belgium on ornate four-poster beds, gothic windows with views of lake, stream, or garden, rich tapestries and walk-out balconies.  Bathrooms are fitted with luxurious tubs and rain showers.

More to follow on the Grail Springs Spa ...

Photos copyright Anne Gordon and Grail Springs Spa (bedroom)

Posted on Wednesday, 29th August, 2012

 

 

GRAIL SPRINGS SPA; IT'S MAGIC

       If ever there was a place dedicated to the spiritual needs and well being of the individual, Grail Springs Spa is it. With a gothic influence and strong connections to Arthurian legend, this delightful place is located in a glorious wooded setting in Canada's northern wilderness. 

 

       As I approached the resort recently, golden light shining through the tall gothic windows of the Great Hall engendered a magical ambience.  On the lake a lone kayaker illuminated by the setting sun skimmed effortlessly across mirrored water.  In a fanciful moment the soft whinny of a horse in the Grail Springs stables conjured thoughts of King Arthur and his Knights.  At that moment I could well understand the attachment that Madeleine Marentette, the spa's founder, had for this enticing setting. Looking around her she said, "I fell in love with the area a long time ago when I was a camper at Silent Lake Provincial Park".

       In its charmed setting Chalice Lake, a receptacle for hundreds of bubbling springs, provides the resort with the purest of water.  Iced over in the winter, skaters glide and twirl in a winter workout.

       Indulging in other cold-weather pursuits, guests cross-country ski or don snow shoes to explore trails that twist and turn like sleek icy ribbons through a still silent forest.

       In Canada's snowy winter, crackling fires and star-filled nights with the occasional mournful cry of a coyote or wolf, indicate that nature in all its majesty is just a whisper away.

More to follow on this glorious spa...

Photo copyright Anne Gordon

Posted by Anne Gordon on Wednesday, 29th August, 2012

TAPATI 2013 POLYNESIAN OLYMPIC GAMES ON EASTER ISLAND
     If you’ve been immersed in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, you’ll be glad to know that another Olympic fix is just around the corner. Tapati 2013, one of the most important annual festivals in all of Polynesia, is the Easter Island version of the Olympic Games. Tapati takes place February 3-18, 2013, with its own version of triathlon, rowing and other contests of athletic prowess. explora Rapa Nui, the 30-room hotel named Posada de Mike Rapu, invites its guests to take part in the celebrations.

     This traditional Rapa Nui festival has been celebrated since 1963, in January and February of every year. During the festival, around 40 ancient sporting and cultural events from Easter Island take place. The best-known are the Vaka Tuai, in which each alliance or team makes a reed canoe and sails with its candidate for queen; the Takona, in which the participants paint their bodies with natural pigments; the Tau’a or triathlon; and the Haka Pei, where competitors throw banana tree trunks downhill at speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour.

     The festival began 40 years ago with the passing of the law, Ley Pascua, allowing the residents of Isla de Pascua, or Easter Island, to vote in the Chilean presidential elections. The festival activities expanded to include the celebration of Rapa Nui heritage with music, dance, feasts and fireworks.

     explora Rapa Nui’s lodge, Posada de Mike Rapu, is a perfect base to experience Tapati 2013. Opened in December 2007, Posada de Mike Rapu is the first green hotel in Latin America. It meets the strict international certification standards of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), evidence of the high environmental standards used in its design and construction. explora Rapa Nui most recently attracted worldwide attention with an impressive perfect score of 100 in Travel + Leisure’s 2012 World’s Best Service Awards.

     In addition to participating in the festival activities, the lodge brings travelers closer to Rapa Nui culture, from its cuisine rich in fish and seafood, to daily excursions on foot, by bicycle and on the ocean (boat trips, snorkeling, fishing and surfing).

Interesting facts about Rapa Nui:

• The island is a World Heritage Site (as determined by UNESCO) with much of the island protected within Rapa Nui National Park.
• The island lies 3,510 km (2,180 mi) west of continental Chile at its nearest point.
• Rapa Nui, claimed to be the most remote inhabited island in the world, is famous for its 887 monumental statues, or Moai.
• explora's report from Tapiti 2012.

For more information visit www.explora.com or contact reserve@explora.com for reservations.

Posted by Anne Gordon on Monday, 13th August, 2012

CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN, LONDON'S SECRET HIDEAWAY

     In May of London's Olympic year, I had the good fortune to visit the Chelsea Physic Garden, nestled in an upmarket residential area close to the heart of Britain's capital city.
     Created in the 17^th century, it was in this garden that apothecaries and healers acquired herbal stock for curing all manner of ailments.

Confined within high walls, London's 'secret garden' ranks among the oldest of its type in the world, preceded only by a physic garden in Pisa, Italy and the Oxford Botanic Garden.

Visitors exploring in Chelsea Physic Garden

      Laid out much like a monastery garden with mostly long narrow beds separated by grassy ribbons, its central feature is a rock garden pond, made with basalt spewed up by volcanos in Iceland.

The Physic Garden Cork Oak

      In the garden's far corner, Britain's largest outdoor olive tree produces abundant fruit; tiny bitter olives requiring a brine soak to render them palatable. Overhanging a stony path nearby, a massive Cork Oak is adorned with a necklace of bottle corks. In the early 18^th century nursing mothers believed that wearing cork necklaces would dry up their milk!

      Edible plants, medicinal plants and poisonous plants are all represented here. Until fairly recently outside guides were permitted to escort tours of the garden but that has been stopped. A Spanish guide, I was told, allowed three members of her tour group to taste the round almost black fruit of the Deadly Nightshade. All three were hospitalized.

Deadly Poisonous Foxgloves

      Attesting to the danger of some herbal plants, poison from the husk of the castor oil seed was applied to an umbrella spike used to kill a Bulgarian dissident in Britain many years ago. I was surprised to see an apricot tree in the 'Poisonous Garden', then discovered that the kernel is a source of arsenic.

      More delectable is chocolate from the cocoa bean. It also has medicinal properties. In 1742 Jean-Baptiste Labat, a Dominican priest and renowned botanist, said dark chocolate quenched thirst and was flesh forming. In his opinion it restored strength, encouraged sleep, helped digestion and softened and purified the blood, preserving health and prolonging life. But there have been differing opinions on chocolate. Casanova, history's famous lover of the 18^th century, was not impressed with this new addictive fancy. He claimed it was fit for maid servants only.

      In the Chelsea Physic Garden pesticides are an unknown entity. Thirty tons of manure arrive every winter from the Buckingham Palace garden. On this rich and nutritious diet the plants thrive. The resident bees are happy too with their pesticide-free environment. Peter James - the beekeeper – tends the garden hives and last year harvested 100 kilos of honey from a single hive.

Chelsea Physic Garden Coat of Arms

      You may wonder who in the past kept this garden weed-free and beautiful. It certainly wasn't the apothecaries. Until the turn of the century women were banned from entering the gardens except for “weeding women” who were paid the paltry sum of sixpence a day. Fortunately pay and conditions have changed, but the rent for the garden - five pounds per annum when Sir Hans Sloane was the landlord in the early 18^th century - remains frozen in time, a mere pittance for what today must be one of London's most expensive pieces of real estate.

      Five hundred years after its inception, the Chelsea Physic Garden is a place of delightful tranquility where perfume from scented herbs and the twittering of birds is a perfect locale for rest and learning. Its early rural loveliness – flower-filled meadows, fields and farms - have been replaced by London sprawl, but it still retains a fascination with a history that attracts a never-ending flow of plant loving tourists from around the world.

Photos copyright Anne Gordon

Posted by Anne Gordon on Monday, 13th August, 2012 

    

The beauty of the bells

BIG BEN WILL CHIME AND BRITAIN'S BELLS WILL RING TODAY, HERALDING THE LONDON OLYMPICS
Today across Britain bells will peal in every city, town and small village in joyous celebration.  The world's top athletes are gathered in one of the world's most historic cities to participate in London's Olympics. 

BIG BEN

At the very heart of London, Big Ben, that iconic British symbol, will chime 40 times for a full three minutes.  At the start of the Olympics opening ceremony,  a 27-ton bell from the  Whitechapel Bell Foundry, the birthplace of Big Ben and Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell will add its peals to thousands of other bells across the country.

Having lived in Oxford England for a decade years back, I have on many occasions been stirred by the sound of Britain's bells; on May Morning in Oxford the bells throughout the city welcome the summer with celebratory peals.  When Dr. Eric Heaton, the Dean of Christ Church in Oxford (I worked closely with him for many years) retired, the city bells rang for him.  "How does it feel to have such approbation" I asked him at the time. "It's rather like being at my own funeral" he said, laughing.

What a day it will be today.  How I would love to be back in England to hear those bells.

Photos copyright Anne Gordon
Posted on Friday 27th July, 2012

   

 A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE ON VANCOUVER'S CAPILANO SUSPENSION BRIDGE

With a worldwide reputation for a thrill a minute, a walk on the wild side across Capilano Suspension Bridge's narrow 137 metre wobbling length, suspended 70 metres above the Capilano river, is one of those 'must do' experiences for all visitors to Vancouver. 

On a recent trip and a crossing of the canyon I ventured an occasional fleeting look into a dense fir-filled abyss. With a long standing fear of heights and a determination to further torture myself with an upcoming 'Treetops Adventure Walk' deeper in the forest, I scrambled, with a gasp of relief, onto the receiving platform at the bridge's furtherest point.  

During the crossing, the fact that 26 tons of concrete (the combined weight of 4 elephants at start and finish) anchoring the reinforced steel bridge, proved to be of little comfort to my fragile sense of security.

The bridge, when erected in 1899 by George Mackay, a Scottish engineer, was a favorite venue for city dwellers. Each weekend on the densely treed hillside leading up to Grouse Mountain, families, courting couples, the aged and children enjoyed nature at its most beautiful.

Lively entertainment by local musicians must have filled the surrounding valleys with music and laughter. Over a century later, a rollicking rendition of vintage melodies by the 'Pioneer Players' was a re-enactment of that time.

As the years passed life evolved on the flanks of Grouse Mountain to include aboriginal people. In the 1930s they were encouraged to display their story poles in this dramatic setting. More than 70 years later those same poles are still on view. Each exquisitely carved treasure tells a tale of the past, a subtle combination of myth and reality. In Kia'palano, the First Nations Cultural center, native wood carvers labour steadily restoring old poles and carving new.

In a setting surrounded by colourful totem poles the Strong Wind Dancers provide a further view into native American culture as they weave a mysterious magic with tales of spirit legends and a wild dance to the haunting throb of drums.

Photos copyright Anne Gordon 

Posted by Anne Gordon on Wednesday, 25th July, 2012.

Rafting on the Martha Brae in Jamaica

RIDE A LAZY RIVER - THE MARTHA BRAE - IN JAMAICA

In a land of jungle and caves washed by the Caribbean Sea along Jamaica's northern coast, are the resorts for which this country is justly famous. To name a few: Half Moon in Montego Bay, the Grand Lido in Negril, and Breezes, a short drive from Ocho Rios; all pockets of heaven on a paradise shore.

As tempting as it was to laze on the beach in the shade of almond trees and sea grapes, we, a group of seven, chose to step out beyond the luxury of the resorts to explore the natural beauty of one of the Caribbean's most fascinating islands.

Royal Poinciana

Travelling a winding road through wild Mango, Breadfruit and Banana groves, Royal Poincianas sprinkled with flame-coloured flowers showered us with petals as we drove by. Alongside us like a giant serpent, the waters of the Martha Brae River, brown and burdened with silt after recent rains in the mountains, wound a circuitous route through dense vegetation.

At Rafter's Village we sipped rum punch, a deliciously cold tipple on a day with soaring humidity. Buoyed by the alcoholic refreshment, we proceeded merrily - through wild ginger and hanging lobster claw bushes to a rickety boarding point for a cruise with a difference.

Clambering aboard a 10-metre long raft fashioned from bamboo, Nicole Boulanger and I settled on a seat for two on a raised platform. Our craft was a Jamaican style gondola; our 'gondolier', a cheery Captain Sewell positioned on the front of the raft wielding a 4-metre long pole. Way back in the days of sugar plantations these same rafts were used for transporting sugar to the merchant ships at the mouth of the Martha Brae in Falmouth.

Dressed in a floppy shirt and shorts, with a gap-toothed grin, our gallant man Sewell was a fund of wisdom about Jamaican folklore, life, love and the environment.

He related the story of brave Martha, an Arawak Indian for whom the river was named. In a quest for treasure, the invading Spanish Conquistadors had cornered Martha in her cave on a nearby mountainside. When she refused to reveal the whereabouts of a legendary gold mine, the Conquistadors tortured her. With her supernatural powers Martha conjured up an earthquake that brought about the drowning of herself and the soldiers in the very river upon which we now rafted.

Sensing my interest in the environment, Sewell pulled over to the river bank. “See that little plant, touch it and something strange will happen”. I did, and its delicate leaves folded immediately. “It's a sensitive plant” claimed Sewell. “We call it ‘Shy Lady’”.

Puzzled about the black birds hovering overhead, Sewell explained. “They’re turkey buzzards. Our name for them is Jancrow” Later when reading Jamaica's No. 1 Bestseller “How to Speak Jamaican”, I discovered that the birds are named for the Revd. John Crow who, when preaching, leaned on his pulpit in a black gown, - 'like a Jancrow drying his wings in the morning'.

A loud creaking in a thicket of bamboo brought another snippet of enlightenment. “Hear that bamboo swaying in the wind. They grow up to three inches in 24 hours.”

Photos copyright Anne Gordon

Posted on Friday July 20th, 2012

Bob Marley,

 the greatest reggae singer of all time

HOW ABOUT BATHING IN A SEA OF STARS IN JAMAICA'S LUMINOUS LAGOON

Riding a bamboo raft along the Martha Brae River in Jamaica, our tranquil reverie was soon to be disturbed. Was that a Bob Marley wannebe catching up on us? The familiar notes of ‘One Love’ floated on the breeze as two of our companions, Joe and Sophy, drifted around the bend on another raft captained by a Jamaican with Rastafarian locks tucked tightly into a bulging hat. Captain Murphy, head back and in full voice, was entertaining our friends with his repertoire of ballads composed by the greatest reggae singer of all time.

Goats, like curious children attracted by the song, flocked to the river’s edge to watch us go by. Surprisingly the animals seemed undeterred by a fire with flames leaping 10-metres into the brush beside us. Huge plumes of smoke billowed across the river. The heat swirled around us scattering ash on our clothes and hair. With its onslaught, trees and grass crackled, curled and blackened as we watched.

Seeking to alleviate an outbreak of fire phobia, Sewell reassured us with Jamaica's favourite saying. “ No problem mon. Burning is good here. We do it every year. It helps de grass grow.”

Captain Sewell carving a calabash

After an hour or so of poleing, Captain Sewell settled at our feet, opened a plastic bag tucked under our seat and proceeded to carve an intricate design on a calabash gourd. One of 98 men who earn their living guiding travellers on the Martha Brae, his work was beautifully executed with no more than a pocket knife.

Upon completion, he thumped his delicate-looking artwork against the raft's bamboo poles, showing me that it would be quite safe to take home in my suitcase. “Just stuff it with your underwear,” he said.

A daylight rafting trip on the Martha Brae is a special Jamaica experience, but for a truly magical encounter, an evening trip to the mouth of this mysterious river is guaranteed to take your breath away.

The Luminous Lagoon is one of only four places in the world where in its brakish waters millions of phosphorescent microbes are stirred to life by the movement of the tides, filling the dark surface with twinkling light. A swim in the Luminous Lagoon - and this is encouraged - could be likened to bathing in a sea of stars. 

Photos copyright Anne Gordon

Posted by Anne Gordon on Friday, 20th July, 2012