cold and rain

This is the grey season in Halong bay.  Not too nice but still interesting.  We were on the boat last night...and it was great to get out of dirty clothing and shower and sleep soundly.   The train ride back was much more pleasant... two men...one older than the other were in the car and they slept soundly and without snoring.   When we got into the city at 5am...there were some amazing sites... a man on a bike came with a cow or buffalo carcas and proceeded to put down a block and start hacking at the bones.  Sometimes he just threw them on the street until they were more supple.. like the back bone... after he chopped them up, he put them in a bag or bags, weighed them an then  packed up and was gone.   The trip to the water had several tours and ours included a family from Seatle (Loren, Bob and little 5 yr Stella.) fun to be with such friendly folks.   We got up early and travelled to an area to kayak.  I am pleased to say the camera is sorta working... I can reveiw or delete or use the menu...but some functions are working and the pics look ok.   The day does not encourage any pictures ...grey, cold and misty.  So I am sitting waiting for a massage... I will have to go to treatment for withdraw... $15 for an hour oil massage.    We are booked into a hotel in Hanoi for tomorrow and will try to get a good dinner and repack before our return for the last 3 days in BKK.   I am sorry I can't add pictures... but I had to try several times to get into the blog and can't read my mail... rochester.rr.com is a questionable website.    and so it goes.   I will be ready to come back but not ready to return... I feel I have made some good gains toward some things I want to do....  I am well ...rested... and I will come back next year for the dentist... but this is the last for VN....   bye for now