halfwhiteboy

Continued from: Our Ha Long Bay cruise experience (Part 2 of 3) Thien Canh Son Cave all lit up. Thien Canh Son Beach and Cave We approached an island with a small patch of white sand, one of the very few throughout the bay. This was Thien Canh Son Beach and here we were treated to a barbecue lunch by the beach. It was another great multi-course meal with turnip salad, a host of different grilled stuff, some rice dish wrapped and cooked in tin foil, and fruit.

Continued from: Our Ha Long Bay cruise experience (Part 1 of 3) Endless variations of these limestone rock islets along Ha Long Bay. Bai Tu Long Bay And so it began: the seemingly endless sight of limestone islets jutting out of Ha Long 's placid, emerald green waters. Yes, it was surreal and I couldn't stop myself from snapping photos, like I had this urge to immortalize them in pictures I most likely would rarely look at again. Eventually I grew tired but every now and then there's an outcrop or formation that I found intriguing enough to photograph.

Though of course different, somehow this reminds me of that vantage point going to Kayangan Lake in Coron, Palawan . It was an unplanned trip but in less than a week we found ourselves aboard a Chinese junk-style boat, cruising along Vietnam's famed Ha Long Bay . With 2,000 or so mostly limestone islets spread across more than 1,500 square kilometers, Ha Long is a surreal experience. Yet with such a vast number of islets there is hardly any beach here and the best way to explore the bay is aboard a cruise. The sheer number of cruise options alone can be overwhelming, with each operator offering something different. Your choice depends on what you want. Is it comfort and luxury or are you on a budget? Do you want a bigger boat with more amenities, but which means you'll have to share it with more guests, or do prefer something more intimate with fewer people aboard? Are you in for a lesser known route or are you more comfortable with what's tried and tested, but which...

Save for the people in the background, there's three of us in the photo. Can you spot who's the third? This was taken in April of 2007 when we went on a sunset cruise along Manila Bay . Sunsets at Manila Bay have long been regarded as one of the most beautiful. Given the right weather conditions, this is very true. A month ago I had the chance of driving along Roxas Boulevard but I found the baywalk quite dry, boring actually. I was reminded of the time when the seaside promenade was bustling with activity. With a number of establishments lined up then, it was once a happening place. It was around this time when we boarded one of those ferries offering sunset cruises complete with food, drinks, and a live band for entertainment. I didn't know if pets were actually allowed on board or not but just the same I snuck in Kwittie Boy , who at the time was our only cat.

I've always had a thing for sunsets, be it in Manila Bay , Bolinao , Boracay , or Sugar Beach . Watching the sun retreat into the horizon is almost always a glorious sight to behold. Now throw in Mt. Mayon into the picture, and how awesome can it get? The glorious Mayon Volcano in the distance.

It was another round of stress-relieving "cruising" for me online, and today the cruise ship has docked at Cruise Fashion , where a sweet selection of clothing, shoes and accessories abounds. While it now retails both men's and women's pieces, Cruise actually started with menswear back in 1981. Personal stylists are available on hand to help customers in their stores although their online boutique is just as fine. Apart from its style blog, I also appreciate the site's Editor's Highlights section, which could come in handy to those who get easily overwhelmed at the sheer number of items to peruse. At least the choices are narrowed down for you here. Come to think of it, it may just be the online equivalent of Cruise's in-store personal stylists! I have a weakness for shoes, and I'm glad to have been introduced to some gorgeous brogues by Grenson , as well as some pointy, hip designs from Jeffery West. Grenson Dylan brogues in tan brown