The past few days did not go as planned, and winter seems to have caught up with us even as we try to chase summer. SE Asia is experiencing “unseasonably cold and wet weather,” so we are making the most of our time despite the rain and lack of warm clothing!
On Sunday, we woke planning to ride out to Halong Bay for a two-night cruise. When the travel company called to notify us it was cancelled, we quickly worked through Plan B, rescheduling the cruise for later in the week and re-booking our train tickets and accommodations in Tam Coc, 2 1/2 hours south of Hanoi, where surely the weather would be warmer. Not so much.
We arrived in Tam Coc to even colder temperatures, which was a real shame considering we had booked into a beautiful open-air bungalow made of bamboo. Literally, open windows and space between the walls and roof. Not to worry – they provided space heaters and extra blankets! Ha! We were now glamping in 40 degrees with heat lamps 12 inches from our faces during the night (thank goodness for eye masks.)
Despite the chilly night’s sleep, we really wanted to see the beautiful landscape of Tam Coc before we left, knowing we couldn’t endure another night in the bungalow. We were literally the only tourists boarding a boat at 9am to ride through the water and gaze on the rock karsts, and it was worth it. Breathtakingly gorgeous. Then we headed back to Hanoi!
This journey is not always as we expect. Our plans change and we are learning to be flexible and remain positive. The silver lining is that we love Hanoi and will enjoy it a few extra days. We’ll blog about this crazy, beautiful city soon.
Out of our Comfort Zone to Explore the World 
We’re catching up on the blog this am. Will you change your next country because of the weather? The kids love that you are “chasing summer!” Hi from all the Waltons!
LikeLike