Explorations Academy

Grades 6-12

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Home
  • About
    • About Explorations
    • Staff 2018-2019
    • Board of Directors
  • Curriculum
    • Curriculum Overview
    • Student Outcomes
    • Urban & Wilderness Field Outings
    • International Expeditions
  • Admissions
    • Enrollment Process
    • Discovery Days
    • Tuition & Fees 2018 – 2019
    • Financial Aid
    • Inquiry
    • Application
  • News
  • Contact
  • Give
    • Make A Gift
    • Blisterama!
    • Bluffworks Armchair Auction
    • Vietnam 2019
      • Vietnam 2019 Postcard Contribution

Educational Student Tour of Vietnam – Update #3

January 16, 2019 By Bacchus Taylor 3 Comments

exloparions-academy-vietnam-2019

Henry reports about our experiences in Halong Bay:

The day finally came. It was time to leave our apartment and get on the bus on our way east to Halong Bay. On the bus, we met our guide Trung, or as he liked to introduce himself, Jackie Trung.

exploratios-academy-vietnam-2019When we arrived at the boat terminal we were greeted with a miniature wooden ferry boat that was ready to taxi us out to our cruise boat. We climbed aboard, in disbelief that an Explorations trip might include so much luxury. We were given our keys, told our schedule, and, of course, Jackie was there with us every step of the way. We were later guided to a floating pearl farming operation in the middle of the bay. It was docked in the most ideal location, surrounded on all sides by steep Karst landscapes. Mere minutes after arriving, having learned the basics of pearl production, a woman sliced into an oyster and extracted a flawless pearl. It was truly a surreal experience. 

exploratios-academy-vietnam-2019

After the pearl experience, it was time to get up close and personal with that amazing landscape. We hopped on kayaks and took to the water. The air was humid but brisk, and the water was incredibly salty. We paddled without a care in the world exploring every nook and cranny in the rocks, our laughs echoing across the bay.

exploratios-academy-vietnam-2019Once we got back to the cruise we were invited to an open air, tea party on the sun deck. The captivating views made the local ginger tea, fresh watermelon, and sweet pineapple even sweeter. Our bodies warm and our stomachs full, we eagerly embraced the next activity: jumping off the boat and into the sea. The water was the perfect temperature for a cool off. We took turns flipping and flopping until everyone felt completely refreshed. And, of course, ready for dinner.

exploratios-academy-vietnam-2019Dinner was massive, more than seven courses. There was plenty of everything: exotic fruits and vegetables, rice, beef, and pork, but the dish that really stood out for me was the seafood: a giant fish, served whole, covered in onions and peppers, calamari, and prawns. We even had crab cakes served inside the shell of the crab.

Dinner was a huge success, but things got even better afterwards. We were given a chance to catch the next day’s meal: squid. It was not only fun to try our luck at something new, it was a fantastic opportunity to get to know the other people on our boat. We socialized with a family from Argentina, another from Singapore, and even some fellow Americans from Minnesota. They all had their unique stories and perspectives that they were happy to share with us. Ultimately, our group only managed to catch one squid. Nonetheless, it was an amazing night filled with spectacular views of the various boats making up a small city on the bay.

exploratios-academy-vietnam-2019The next morning we visited a cave that opened to the public in 1976. From the gaping opening of the cave we gained a new perspective of the enormity of the bay as well as yet another way to appreciate its beauty. We explored the spectacular caves, admiring the array of formations inside. The cave may have been too touristy for our tastes, but our jaws literally dropped at the amazing sights, which filled us with even greater anticipation for our next stop, Phong Nha, where we will be taking three full days to trek through the jungle to explore some of the biggest caves in the world.

exploratios-academy-vietnam-2019Please note: we will likely be out of contact for the next three days while we are in the jungle. We will send an update as soon as we return.

Filed Under: Educational Student Tour of Vietnam, International Expedition, International Trips Tagged With: Educational Student Tour, Exploring the World, International Expeditions, Student Perspective, Vietnam, Vietnam 2019

Comments

  1. Richard Paul says

    January 16, 2019 at 8:04 am

    That was an amazing account of what sounds like an amazing trip. I am going to follow you on Google Earth. You guys look like you are having the time of your life. You also write so evocatively, that you make me want to book a trip to Vite Nam. Keep writing, as i look forward to your blog

    Reply
    • Colleen Mariotti says

      January 16, 2019 at 5:19 pm

      How exciting for the school that you are following their journey all the way from Portugal! Thank you for always supporting the kids in their adventures. It is a small world indeed!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Vietnam, Then and Now says:
    January 17, 2019 at 7:35 pm

    […] studying both Chinese and French colonialism and periods of self-rule. The best part is Max and Henry will be writing their own chapter, using their own voice as they taste, touch, smell and feel a […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get EA News Updates!

Stay up to date with the latest:

We'll keep our emails to a minimum. Unsubscribe anytime!

Parent: Phil Rose

https://explorationsacademy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/EA-Testimonials-Phil-Rose.mp4

Featured Posts

Welcome Message from Bacchus Taylor, The Head of School

Hello, I'm Bacchus Taylor, the Head of School. Explorations Academy is unlike any school serving middle and high school students in the Pacific Northwest. Rooted in experiential, field-based learning, our program provides students with opportunities to explore diverse subject matter, build positive relationships with peers and adults, and engage with the world around them in meaningful ways. Our main campus is nestled between the Salish Sea and the North Cascades in … Read More

Alumnus – Ian Carroll

https://explorationsacademy.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Ian-Carroll-Mesoamerica-Video-1.mp4

Accreditation

Accreditation Accreditation provides an objective, external assessment of a school’s organizational … Read More

Testimonials

Here is what people are saying about an education that matters... These are parents whose children … Read More

Our School Calendar

Are you interested in what our 2018-2019 school calendar looks like. We have a great year planned … Read More

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Thank You for Supporting Us And Helping Spread The Word About an Education That Matters!

Make a Gift

$
Would you like to help cover the processing fees?
Select Payment Method
Personal Info

Additional Information

Donation Total: $15.00 One Time

{amount} donation plus {fee_amount} to help cover fees.

Copyright © 2019 - Explorations Academy, All rights reserved. - Log in