Last Night on Cat Ba Island

(Auckland, NZ CS Host House 4:50pm 10.30.08)
Next Morning (10.10.08 or 10.11.08 somewhere I lost a day?) I got up and went to work. It was my last day I was able to work for Slopony as I was leaving the following morning. Luke, Tim, Dinh and I set the ropes for the first climbs while Slo went to do the transfer. This free time allowed an opportunity for me to get some rock climbing pics of myself. Luke went up on the second route while climbed the first (super easy) route. The fact that the route was easy made it really easy for us to get some good pics. I had been telling Luke for the past week that he owed me since I got such amazing pics of him climbing. Well he finally paid up. Tim choreographed the photo shoot from below. “get a heel hook with your right leg reaching out towards Luke, now reach back with your right hand like you’re chalking hands and look up the route” Tim instructed. The result was some pretty sick pictures and if I didn’t tell you that they were all posed you’d probably agree. I came back down and somehow Luke and I got into a pushing match that quickly escalated into a full on beach wrestling match, complete with sand in my eyes and all over my face. Luke’s ribs will probably never feel the same after me blasting them soooo many times! A few minutes later I got Tim to play photographer while I snuck up behind Luke, wrapped him up and slammed him, simply for the photo. When Slo returned, Luke and I were sent to do the kayak tour. After the tour I took advantage of my last day at work and tried to climb a new route on tiger beach, well new to me. 3 of the guys tried the route and didn’t make it very far and after they were done I got geared up. Slo was belaying me. I asked him for advice on where to go and he simply said “straight up, then go to the left or right” I could tell he was gonna be much help. I began climbing and made it past where everyone was getting stuck and found a nice rest spot. I again asked Slo for some direction and I got the same reply. The next section was an over hang and you’re mean to make your way through it pretty fast so that the weight of you body doesn’t drag you off the face. The problem was I didn’t know where the holds were and I wasn’t getting much help. I tried and tried again, eventually my arms wore out and I could no longer grip the holds. Slo suggested I come down and try again after did it. I watched as Slo, who had probably climbed this route a hundred times, quickly made his way through the route with no delay. I again went up but had the same fate. When we got back to the Noble house I told Jess and Luke that I wanted to take them to Green Mango, an upscale restaurant and only restaurant with dessert on Cat Ba, for dessert. After Luke got his shower and was ready to go the tour group had already eaten dinner and was making their way upstairs for drinks, which meant I had to go to work. Jess ended up going and getting every dessert on the menu to go and brought it back to the bar for us. Our feast included: Crème Brulei, Sticky Rice with Mango, Fried Ice Cream, Lava Cake and Fried Banana! Since it was my last night I was really relaxed at work. I spent more time playing pool and sitting at the bar then I did behind the bar. I also showed off my signature bar move: “the one handed, hand stand, drink pour” I had learned it a few days earlier when I had a real princess at the bar being very particular about how she wanted her drink. After she apologized for being so difficult, I replied “no worries, if you want I can do a hand stand while I make it for you”. Stacey called me out and said I wanna see it!! So I walked out from behind the bar so I’d have more room and went for it. To my surprise I was able to do a hand stand, reach with one hand for the bottle (lid already off), poor a shot and put the bottle back down before loosing balance with my other arm! We closed the bar semi-early and went to the Blue Note Karaoke bar to continue the last night celebrations. Around 3 am I finally made it home. Next morning (10.13.08) I woke up at 7 am to walk my “very good friend” from the night before, back to her hotel so she could pack. I had meant to go back with the tour group back to Hanoi so I wouldn’t have to buy a bus ticket, but after the night I had I really didn’t feel like packing in a rush and heading out. All I wanted to do was sleep! I ate breakfast and said goodbye then retreated to my room for some shut eye. I woke back up around 1130 and packed my bags. I said all my goodbyes and gave all the Vietnamese girls at the Noble house their necklaces I had made for them out of “puka shells” and fishing line, just like the one I wear. Ms. Oanh told me to come back anytime to work and I told her I’d be back next year, same time, but for a lil longer and I walked up the road to catch my bus. It was the same route I had come on, only in reverse except this time the bus to Hanoi stopped, literally, 50 times to let people on the bus. What was supposed to be a 4 hour trip turned into a nearly 5 ½ hour nightmare. I was sooooooooo hungry when I got to Hanoi. I called Bethany, my host in Hanoi, and she gave a motorbike driver instructions on where to take me. We had dinner with “Be’s” roommate and friend, then went home.