Tam coc

We have just had an amazing day out!!! We booked a trip to a lesser Known tourist destination called Tam Coc. 3 hour drive west of Hanoi. They have nicknamed it Ha Long in land, and on a smaller scale they are not far off. We didn't mind the tourist so much on this trip mainly because the town has not been spoiled, stil quite basic and in my eyes quite run down,(but I think they like it that way or just don't know any better!) the boats we traveled in were all man powered, no engines at all. So, we had this lady rower who sat behind us and rowed with her feet!! Must be easier than with her arms! Bev kept calling her mama san, but when i looked at her she only loked about 20. We traveled slowly and peacefully though the lotus fields, bright pink flowers that at the moment are just in bud. Then between the paddy fields, lush and green and ready for harvest. Above us the rock formations was huge, also covered in lush vergitation. Slowly we rowed until we reached the cliff where the caves appeared and we traveled, almost laying on our backs under the rocks through the caves until there was "light at the end of the tunnel". It was quite spooky but the rower new exactly where she was going, and the water was only about 2-3 feet deep, nothing to worry about! When we got to the "end" we turned around and came back, the views look different from a different angle!! At the "turminal!" there were several ladies in thier boats selling stuff, trouble is they take it for granted that we will pay for the rowers food+drink as well! Then after I paid, the seller started asking for money for her, begging its called!! I had already had a run in at a pits stop when this woman wanted to keep my change!! I am afraid I wasn't having any of it and keeps on at her untill she gave me back what was rightfully mine, the money is not the issue, it's the fact that they see us at rich and don't like it!! It's the principle as well, a price was agread on and she wanted to break that agreement!!! It kind of leaves a nasty taste in your mouth. Makes you want to not buy any thing, this was just over a bottle of water!!! Any way it was such an amazing day that we would not let it spoil the day. It was so peaceful, so relaxing. More of those please.