A Labrynthine Seascape
Halong Bay, Vietnam, March 31st - April 1st ~ According to legend, Halong Bay was formed when a gigantic dragon plunged into the Gulf of Tonkin, lashing its tail and creating a beautiful and bizarre seascape of more than 2,000 islets. (Ha long translates into descending dragon.) Geologists attribute the pinnacle-shaped limestone and dolomite outcroppings scattered throughout the 580-sq.-mile bay to selective erosion over the millennia, though I'm partial to the dragon theory. We rose early and were transported 4-5 hours by crowded van to the bay's edge, where we boarded an 11-guest cabin Indochina junk. Originally used throughout Asia for extensive ocean voyages, these ancient Chinese sailing ships are most often found in China. Like many others dotting the tranquil waters, the sails of our boat remained stowed as we motored along. We were ushered onto a smaller wooden boat that delivered us to what would be home for the next 24 hours. Once we boarded the junk, the smalle
