Nuom Phong, Cat Ba Island Day 2

Our first full day in Cat Ba and we immediately decided that the only way to get around this gorgeous island is by bike. We climb back on and take it very slowly, which is kind of nice as we can take in the scenery around us.
Our trip today is to the national park. As we get in it all looks a bit odd. There are three monkeys trapped in bare cages and a weird taxidermy building with most of the animals falling apart. But that's not why we're here. The trek we decided to go on is apparently the easy one. It's only a mile long, but the mile consists of climbing up steps and rocks through the deep, humid jungle. Wildlife runs about all around you. We see lizards, snakes, squirrels, a crab (bizarrely) but thankfully none of the spiders that live here (despite there being many big webs). It takes us about two hours to reach the top, and we are drenched. The views make it all seem worthwhile though, as we look out across Cat Ba and all its natural beauty.
Amy doesn't look happy when I tell her there's another viewpoint a bit further up, but we make the short walk there anyway, where a rock is all you sit on as you look over the landscape from even higher up. The walk back seems a lot easier despite our legs getting wobblier by the minute. Thank God we had a moped to take us back!
We drive straight to the beach for a cool off and to relax, unfortunately Amy has picked up 31 bites through her leggings on the walk so relaxing isn't really on the menu. We go back to the room loaded with tiger balm and go out for a meal in oasis bar again, before getting an early night, ready for a day on the seas tomorrow!Read more