"Traditionally, each boat in the floating village is a separate household, though the raft or boat always serves more than one function. It is a home, a means of transport, and a source of income." ~ World Monuments Fund

She is so over it.
Another boat load of tourist gawking at her home.
Go ahead.
Take my picture.
But I am not smiling.
 Seeing this woman and her house on the water took me back... 
to our year traveling the USA in a thirty-two foot motorhome,

into which we crammed as many comforts of home as possible

 and towed a VW convertible.

No dog...

two children.

Same, Same but Different?
Ha! Not even close!

These families on Halong Bay take minimalism to a whole new level.

Vascilating between my curiousity of life on these Vietnamese renditions of a houseboat...

and sincere admiration of how simple life seems...

I am reminded of the dichotomy we tourists represent.

Their livelihoods are threatened by overfishing of the past,
 and tourism where visitors often leave a trail of litter behind.

They have created other sources of income...

including a peek into their lives...

as we are taken through the small clusters of homes...

where technology is never far away.

 Life becomes a stage...

 as we glide past...

 observing family members share a meal...

amongst the beautiful waters... 

enveloping and buoying their homes.

Slow, even strokes...

take us to a point unpassable at high tide...

  where all of our boats meet up...

and make the turn back to the boat launch.

As it began to rain,
 our heads appreciated the practicality of these hats.

Hearing our young driver...

I turned around to see if she was speaking to me.  
Ha!  Quite the advertisement for whatever cell phone company she uses.

Meanwhile, back at the launch,

we are shown the art of cultivating pearls... 

and the beautiful pieces of jewelry 
sold in the adjacent floating jewelry shop.

Upon returning to the Dragon Legend,

preparations are made for beach time... 

more kayaking...

and...            

    a...
                    climb...

to the entrance...

of our lunch locale.

We followed one by one... 

in complete awe...

as our friendly crew welcomed us...

to an amazing barbecue.
Yes, we enjoyed barbecue and beer in a cave.
Didn't realize that needed to be on the bucket list,
but there you have it.
Check✔

By this point,
friends have been made: 
conversations and laughter filled this awesome cave
where sweet memories were made.

Halong Bay part III coming soon.