Scuba Diving in Hoi An

My first scuba dive experience was in '07 in Hoi An, Vietnam with Rainbow Divers and I fell in love with diving...three years later, I got to go back to where it all started, this time as a certified diver rather than a newbie. Clear and warm waters, a spontaneous wreck dive, an island lunch time adventure and even a sliced up finger from coral (I need to bring my gloves with me when diving!) makes this dive a favorite of mine! Most of these photos below were taken by my father however for our dive in Nha Trang, I will need to take more photos so I can practice photographing underwater which isn't as easy as it looks...

• heading off to sea •

• our first dive site •

• oh crap, look at the size of that thing! •

• holding a pooping sea cucumber! •

• coral for scale •

• dad checking out the urchin •

• shipwreck from 2009 typhoon •

• note: do not slice fingers on rusty boat •

• lunch and boat ride to cham island was included •

• after our two dives, relaxing on the beach •

• father and daughter scuba dive bonding •

• scuba dive vietnam! •

Ancient City of Hoi An

The an ancient city of Hoi An that is fully walkable, is close proximity to the beach, is always properly lit with beautiful lanterns and it includes a pretty sweet bonus: custom made clothing for a ridiculously cheap price! Where else can one go and buy a custom made jacket for $60?! I think that for the next trip, I need to spend about five days in Hoi An and have a full new wardrobe made :-) Some photo highlights of one of my favorite cities in Vietnam, can you see why I love Hoi An?!

• beer me please •

• would you believe that this is vietnam?! •

• the husband had this jacket custom made for $55 •

• standard entryway to someone's house in hoi an •

• just another street decorated with lanterns •

• decorated bridge •

• the river at night •

• second night and the river was so calm, it made a perfect reflection! •

Hue Festival Highlights

We've spent the past five days in my mother's hometown, Hue enjoying time with my family, celebrating my cousin's wedding and mainly, soaking in the Hue Festival which happens every two years. The city really does know how to create a magical place for a festival.

*on a side note: there is nothing more frustrating then having my wide angle lens go kaput on me while traveling! At least I have two other lenses (50mm and 70-300mm) but nothing that goes wider and that will drive me crazy for the next two weeks...at least the 50mm is fast and has allowed me to take these photos without boosting up the ISO too high. I've tried attempting to use the point and shoot for any wide photos but that camera also drives me crazy now since I have such limited control.

Next stop is Hoi An to enjoy "the city of Lanterns" and to do some scuba diving, whoohoo!

The "Amazing" Cave photos

Sung Sot, also known as the Amazing Cave or Surprising Grotto, is located on Bo Hon island in Halong Bay and was a surprise highlight of our cruise. With two chambers that have thousands of stalactites that form into numerous shapes, the wonder of the cave is overwhelming. Once again, these photos do not do justice to the actual location and even at my widest angle lens, those photos do not encompass the immense beauty of the caves.

• boating over to the cave entrance •

• welcome to the amazing caves •

• chamber one •

• chamber two •

• the details and people at the bottom for scale •

• pure awesomeness •

• looking into the light •

• what does that look like?! •

• tiny people, large cave •

• incredible •

• the view from the cave's exit •

Halong Bay photo highlights

Halong Bay is enclosed with over 1900 limestone islets. The literal translation is: Descending Dragon Bay.

We did a two day, one night junk boat cruise out into the bay and was pampered with delicious food, superior service and of course, amazing photo opportunities. These photos do not do justice to the actually beauty of the Descending Dragon Bay.

• our junk boat, the calypso cruiser •

• view from the top deck •

• heading deeper into the bay •

• location of "amazing cave*" •

• pure serenity •

• only other ship in our part of the bay •

*interior cave photos to come