Month: January 2022

Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay

After spending three days in Hanoi I joined forces with a fellow backpacker from South Korea and we went on a one-day trip to Ha Long Bay - a gorgeous, stunning bay and a UNESCO world heritage site with multiple limestone islands. It's a very popular tourist destination.

Hubi with a friend in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Venturing with a fellow traveler form South Korea.

We got on a one-night ferry trip around this very magnificent and scenic area. I remember approaching those unique mountains above the sea level and it is an amazing memory. The mix of rocks and water was just an outstanding landscape.

Approaching mountains of Ha Long Bay 1Approaching mountains of Ha Long Bay 2Approaching the mountains of Ha Long Bay on the boat.

Hubi on a boat in Ha Long BayRelaxing on a boat in Ha Long Bay.


The breath-taking view from the Ti Top island.

Approaching the cave entrance by boat.

Walking through the cave.

Ti Top Island & Caves

We spent the most of the day on the top deck of the ferry enjoying the sights and the warm breeze. However, we got off the boat a few times to visit some interesting places. The first one was the Ti Top island, a big hill with a viewing pagoda on the top and a beach at the bottom. Although the view was stunning as expected there were just too many people spoiling the experience. Even taking pictures was stressful enough so we quickly left for the beach below.

Another majestic place of the day was an island south of Ti Top, a gorgeous bay with a landscape looking like out of a Jurassic Park movie. We arrived there in the late afternoon, got off the boat and entered the magnificent Hang Sung Sot cave with its staggering stalactites and stalagmites.

Hubi approaching the caves in Ha Long BayApproaching the caves of Ha Long Bay.

Escaping the Ti Top island viewing platform.


My commentary about the cave.

Nightly Hangout

My travel group and the crew spent the night on the boat. Although the new friends we made on the day was a fun bunch of people, it was a pity that there wasn't a better illumination or music playing on the upper deck to enjoy the night. Instead, we talked, played cards and laughed on the deck-chairs in the darkness, which was also fun in its own special way. At some point into the night I retired to my two-bed cabin to get some sleep.

In a canoe in Ha Long BayIn a canoe in Ha Long Bay.

By the beach in Ha Long BayBy the beach hidden somewhere among the caves.

Canoe Tour

The next day I woke up very early at around six as the schedule was to go canoeing and visit another cave. I don't remember where it was exactly, however it was an awesome start into a new day. I walked around the boat a bit sleepy, breathing in the fresh air and enjoying the peaceful and silent atmosphere of the morning.

Half an hour later we reached a place with wooden platforms from where we canoed to a small beach. There, we left the canoes and walked up into the short, but spacious cave passage. After exiting on the other side we ended up on a lovely, hidden, little beach where we hung out out for a while, took pictures and swam a bit.

This was the last place on our visit to this wonderful world of Ha Long Bay. After getting back to the boat, the ferry made its way back to the docks of Ha Long City. I must admit seeing Ha Long Bay is a must for every traveller to Vietnam. The best experience is to take a boat for a day or even stay overnight as we did. You will remember this magnificent scenery forever.

Group photo after the tourGroup photo after the tour.

In a hidden beach in Ha Long BayOverlooking a hidden beach after the canoe tour.

Shirtless with my Korean friendShirtless with my Korean friend.

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Ko Pha-Ngan

Ko Pha-Ngan

Ko Pha Ngan is an island in southeast Thailand that’s renowned for its monthly Full Moon Party. We attended the Black Moon Party.

Ko Pha-Ngan Impressions

Impressions of Ko Pha-Ngan.

Arrival On The Island

My friend Jeff and I realised that spending 3 days in Ko Tao was more than enough. The island is small and you quickly explored everything you need to see. Toni, a good friend of mine, was spending his holiday on Ko Pha Ngan, a bigger island just next to Ko Tao. We decided to join him there and explore a new surrounding. We booked a cabin in the Milky Bay resort and took the ferry to the neighbouring island.

A beach in Ko Pha-Ngan.

Ko Pha-Ngan Milkybay Resort

Milkybay Resort in Ko Pha-Ngan.

Ko Pha-Ngan Milkybay Resort bamboo trees

Milkybay Resort bamboo trees.

Milky Bay Resort

At the arrival dock there’s no town centre or pedestrian zone with shops. All the places where something happens are spread throughout the island. A transfer car took us to our accommodation which was a nice complex of bungalows and outdoor courtyards by the beach. We hung out at the pool and the billiard table until we met my old friend.

Ko Pha-Ngan Milky Bay dining area

Ko Pha-Ngan Milky Bay dining area.

In a hammock at Milky Bay Resort

In a hammock at Milky Bay Resort.

Reunion With A Friend

It was a great reunion, because I’ve known Toni for many years since we first met in Paris. Now he works for the Emirates airline as a cabin crew member which is why he gets around quite a lot. We spent some time together on that day talking and having some drinks in a beach bar. We decided to meet up for the following two days.

Hubi's reunion with a friend

Hubi's reunion with a friend.

The next day Jeff and I rented a motorbike from the reception and we joined Toni on a ride around the island. I remember the feeling very well. I felt so free to be driven on a broad road among the palm tree forests on this beautiful island. It was amazing. That was one of my freest moments I will ever remember. We stopped at a bar in a small bay along the northern coast. We had some drinks and food, jumped into the water, observed fishes and enjoyed a giant swing.

After another motorbike tour through the island we arrived at the (…) where we swam and enjoyed our time on the beach with the beautiful (…) resort as a backdrop.

Hubi and Toni after dawn in Ko Pha-Ngan

Hubi and Toni after dawn in Ko Pha-Ngan.

On a swing in Ko Pha-Ngan.

A fire artist at the Black Moon Party in Koh Pha Ngan.

A fire artist dropping his fire near me.

Black Moon Party

Ko Pha Ngan is famous for its Full Moon parties. Unfortunately, we arrived a few days too late for that. However, there was another party happening that day, the so called Black Moon party. To me all those parties are the same event anyway, they just get different names in different places. Jeff and I went to the party that night and met a couple that we got to know back in Ko Tao.

The concept of the event was psychedelic looks and electronic music. You can have your body painted in fluorescent colors to enhance the nightly experience. As the coloured tattoo were quite expensive, we decided to buy paint in a local store and paint our faces and arms ourselves. It was a fun night to remember. We danced, watched fire performances, took pictures, talked and laughed into the night.

Fire artist in Koh Pha-Ngan

A fire artist at the Black Moon Party in Koh Pha-Ngan.

The venue was outdoor on the beach under a colourful, fluorescent canopy. To get to the place we just needed to ride on our bike down the main road and then turn into a side road and around a few curves. It was very close to our Milky Bay resort, which was convenient as we needed to return by bike at some point and I don’t think any of us avoided alcohol that night. We enjoyed the experience and it will remain an amazing memory forever.

Fire skipping rope at the Black Moon Party.

An fire artist at the Black Moon Party.

Leaving the paradise

The next day we met up with Toni again and we went to a local, German restaurant to have some German dishes for dinner. Ko Pha Ngan will always be one of my favourite places to visit on this planet. I hope to return there one day when the times are better to attend the actual Full Moon party.

From Ko Pha Ngan we took a ferry back to the main land and from the docks a bus took us to the city of Surat Thani. It was the place where Jeff and I had to part our ways, him returning back to Bangkok and me proceeding further south to Kuala Lumpur. We would eventually meet up again in Bangkok one month later, but at that time we weren’t sure when we would join forces again. While Jeff continued to the airport I arrived in a small and unremarkable hotel in Surat Thani to wait for my plane to Kuala Lumpur next day.

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