Cat Ba - Ripped off

Next thing I know I'm in Hanoi. Sleeping pills that work are amazing - the flight back will hopefully be a doddle.



I'm approaced by the bus company and asked where I'm headed, and they quote me a silly price to get me there. Despite my freshly-woken state I have the wit to haggle the silly price down a bit. Because of my freshly-woken state (well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it) I don't actually haggle it down to a sensible price.



For breakfast I am ripped off.



After getting to Halong City I hop on a boat which goes through Halong Bay. The boat seems a slight rip off, and I don't get lunch which I thought I was getting. Luckily it seems like my easy-going manner appeals to the crew and they invite me to join them for their lunch. I teach a Vietnamese boy who speaks no English how to play snap.



Once on Cat Ba Island I need to cross to the south to hit the habitated town. My motorbike driver probably doesn't rip me off too badly, but I'm seeing patterns where there aren't any by now.



My hotel tries to rip me off, I feel. The receptionist gets angry at me for trying to negotiate a discount. It's a good thing for her my bag is already in the room or I would have found somewhere else. I tell her off for getting pissy and get a slight discount.



I find a small bar and have a pint of local brew for 33p, hoping the curse is broken.