Update 31

 We made our way to Tam Coc which is just 3 hours south of Hanoi. Toll roads with actual traffic signs & well marked lanes made it an easy ride. We saw lots of people working in rice paddies and gardens. Many of the rice paddies had a a single headstone in the center. We pulled into a gas station & I noted gas in about $4/gal. Tam Coc use to be a small village but is now teaming with young backpackers trekking the limestone karst that jut up 300-500 ft. Lots of caves with rivers running through them makes it a perfect & interesting place for boat rides. Of course, one of my favorite things to do! Our first was in Trang An where we went through 9 tunnels…one over 1000 ft. Our lady paddler kept shouting, "Low, low,low!" As we crouched trying to avoid banging our heads while we went through the narrow passages. It cracked us up. We stopped to check out a couple temples accessible by boat only. After lunch, we rented bikes & rode to the Thai Vi temple where there were lots of Buddhas, incense & offerings. One altar had a neatly stacked beer cans. Another had neatly stacked Chocolate Moon Pies & Coke. I know which Buddha I wish I was! Next we headed to Thung Nham bird sanctuary & flower garden. Didn't know it when we got there that our ticket included 2 more boat rides there. One took us to see hundreds of storks & the other to see a gorgeous flower garden. That paddler used her feet to paddle! Last stop on our way home was Bich Dong pagoda where a musician was playing an instrument called the Dan Bau & later his flute. It had been misty all day so we were pretty damp when we finally got back to our room, ate a pb sandwich & orange then took a hot shower!