World Image issue 22 July 2015

(the "junk" has nothing to do with garbage but
is the name of an ancient type of Chinese
sailing vessel) and on this we puttered along
slowly with a nicely quiet engine that took us
out to the bay where we kayaked, indulged in
sea-food, slept the night, and visited the Han
Sung Sot caverns before returning to Hanoi.
My last day in Hanoi I was all by myself. Yet
another crazy dream-infested night and the bags
under my eyes were so puffed up I was nervous
they would make me check them in and charge
me extra on my flight home! Anyhow, as I was
awake by six, I went for an early walk around
the lake to join the other hundreds of exercising
people.
Above, Morning Exercise, Hanoi
below, Morning Exercise, Hoi An
Halong Bay
I slept like the dead on that boat, beneath my
round cabin window which I had opened,
knowing the giant dragon was descending right
outside beneath the stars Halong Bay was
magical.
At first sight one might wonder if there's been a
break out from a mental asylum. Some were
jogging, dancing, playing badminton
"normally". But there was also quite a bit of
walking backwards, slapping a tree, moving
randomly of body-parts in a manner we don't
often see in the overly self-conscious world of
the West unless someone is hallucinating or is
just feeling twitchy.
But I really liked this! People were out to move
their bodies, to get some air and to loosen those
limbs. Not to show off their new fancy sun
glasses, pumped biceps, fake additions, brandname
trackies, or extreme yoga poses. Inspiring
is so much cooler than impressing!
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