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| Photo Credit: jonasphoto |
Crazy, loud, drinking, dancing and Stephen Hawking.
Wait, am I still talking about this UNESCO World Heritage Site?
You bet I am!
My fellow Backstreet Boys fanatics and I were debating which Halong Bay cruise to take. While my sole sister Lois opted for the dirt-cheap day tour option since the weather was cloudy and gloomy, I chose to take a different route.
The Hanoi Backpackers' Hostel's Rock Long Rock Hard Tour isn't a cheap cruise at 69.50 USD. However, we decided to go for it because:
a. If it's gloomy and rainy on the bay and you'll be on a boat for 2 days, then the only thing that can save your sanity are the people you'll be stuck in the boat with.
b. If you hear several backpackers say that this is the best Halong Bay cruise ever, then there's no arguing about that.
c. Jolly Rogers is a good name for a boat.
A mini bus took us from the hostel to Halong City, the city closest to Halong Bay. It would have been another boring 4 hours sitting on the mini van if it hadn't been for our Party Priest, Lewis. Just several minutes after leaving Hanoi, he asked everyone to introduce themselves by saying their name, country and telling one funny story. The ice was broken as one funny/embarassing story was told after the other. Those funny stories were better than name tags in helping us remember each other's names.
We were on board the Jolly Rogers junk boat just before lunch time. We checked into our cabins right after eating a surprisingly delicious meal.
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| View from my cabin |
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| Our Halong Bay crew |
1,2, 3 Jump!
Whenever I'm near a body of water and some sort of platform, I find myself jumping. Just like what I did in Sagada,
The Halong Bay water was cold and it was drizzling outside. But that didn't stop us. I was joined by several people and we didn't waste anytime jumping from the highest deck.
NIGHT
Although the day had been perfect, things got even more interesting after dusk. That's when the drinking games and rules started.
Rule#1: Do not drink from your right hand. Anyone caught doing so will face the consequence of someone drawing a line on your forehead...in permanent blue marker.
Rule#2: No one shall say the word drink or any derivative of the word out loud. Anyone caught will have to drop down and do 5 push-ups.
Line of Fire: Rules of Engagement
The rules are simple enough. A set of cards lie face down in the middle of the table. Each person picks up a card from the deck (being careful not to break the line or you drink). Each card has a corresponding action that you would need to execute. No but's, no if's.
Ace = The person next to you chooses 2 persons from the group. You close your eyes and decide on what they will do. Be careful though, it could backfire on you if he/she decides to pick you!
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| Person A swaps clothes with Person B |
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| Person A (Lewis) kisses the hand of Person B |
3 = You drink.
4 = All the girls drink.
5 = Stephen Hawking. Be like Stephen and be catatonic. You can't move until someone else picks up another 5.
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| You'd be like this until the next 5 comes around. |
7 = Shark Attack! You can choose to play this card whenever you want to. When you shout 'Shark Attack!' everyone needs to get off the ground. Fast. Last one on the ground drinks.
8 = Geckos! You can also choose to play this card whenever you want to. When you shout 'Gecko!' everyone needs to touch both hands on the wall. Last one to touch the wall...you guessed it, drinks.
9 = Troll. A troll hides in dark corners, right? If you pick a 9, you stay under the table until the next person picks another 9 (which could take a while). The good news is that you can tap anyone to ask for a sip of whatever they're drinking.
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| We found a troll! |
Joker = The Mummy. See below:
After the game, all the tables and chairs were moved to the side. We turned that dining room into a dance floor. Madness ensued right after and went on until 4 in the morning.
We woke up the next day with eyes red and head aching - hungover, tired and a litle worse for the wear. With sunglasses on, we went up to the top deck. Laid on the lounges overlooking the beauty of Halong Bay while waiting until we got back to port. Our naps were occassionally interrupted by fits of laughter when someone remembers a funny incident (and there were a lot of them) from the night before.
They say that it's the people you meet while traveling that makes good times and great memories. The Halong Bay tour, the great people I've met, the laughter, the too-funny moments all tell me that what they say is true.
Sole Sister Chichi
9 sole trails:
What a great drinking game! I don't think I could remember all those rules for, though. I enjoyed this article. :)
It was great fun Kat! We had cheat sheets for the rules scattered all over the table. After about an hour, you've memorized them already though. Had fun writing this article too. Thanks for dropping by!
nice one! i like that junk
I liked it too! The cabins we had were nicer compared to some of the guesthouses I've stayed at. Though, the junk didn't have the ubiquitious sails that Lois and I were expecting.
Our Princess Junk is designed on the style of a traditional sailing boats of Ha Long Bay, and are the first small deluxe one-cabin junks in Ha Long Bay, Halong Bay Private junk and Halong Bay private Cruises for more information plese visit Halong Bay cruises
omg, this is game is genius!!!
i'd like to try this on my bday! panalo! (perfect kasi nabasag na yung drinking roulette na gamit namin last yr!) =)
i knew it, you will jump! rock on sole sister! \m/
That reminds me of a drinking game I played in college. It was so fun and got me drunk so quickly. Those were some really good times for me. It looks like you had a lot of fun too. Don't get too hung over though - you still might have things to see in Halong Bay.
It was the best drinking game I've had so far Chyng! Spread the good news ;p
It was fun times Steve! although, I think I'll be doing the more laid-back tour if ever I go back to Halong Bay...
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