Tropical Sky’s Steve Garley reveals his athletic side in the Seychelles…

The Banyan Tree on the south coast of Mahé in the Seychelles has a majestic view of the Indian Ocean and boasts luxuriously furnished villas.  Lounging around by the pool in this fantastic luxury sounds great, but Steve Garley, on occasion, is one of those exercise freaks.

So it was up at 7.00 am and off to find a mountain bike. Reception duly found one and he rode through the resort and up the hill. And what a hill it was!  It was a real Tour de France mountain stage, but our intrepid hero made it to the top!  Then it was down the other side to the next beach and an even steeper climb home.

Back in the resort, all glowing and sweaty, a swim in the sea to cool off was very welcome.  Breakfast of fruit, eggs and wonderful coffee (Steve insists on a “coffee test” in all the hotels he visits and this one definitely passed) was then followed by a morning in the private villa complete with private pool that’s absolutely discreet and not overlooked by anyone.  Then you can head off for a spa treatment in the Banyan Tree Spa located next to the very nice gym at the top of the resort.

It is very relaxing reading, swimming, having a beer from the Minibar and doing absolutely nothing and the Banyan Tree is the perfect location to do just that – or be more active if you really want to!

Ha Long Bay’s calm water and the thousands of limestone outcrops, islands and steep mountainous karsts dotting the seascape make it a truly magical place….

Some of the islands in Ha Long bay are quite large and there are small coves with sandy beaches where swimming is possible, but the best way to experience this wonderland is on baord a junk as part of a tour. Ha Long literally means Descending Dragon and according to local myth, the unique features of the bay were made when the gods from heaven sent a family of dragons to help defend the land.

This family of dragons began spitting out their teeth to create a barrier against the invader and when they hit the sea, these teeth turned into the various islands, outcrops and islets you can see today.   Mother dragon lies on what is now Ha Long and her children lie in Bai Tu Long. The dragon’s tails formed the area called Bach Long Vi known for the miles of white sandy beaches.

When you arrive in Ha Long city, you’ll most likely be driving along Bai Chay (Scorched Beach) and the sand on this stretch of beach is indeed very dark. Legend says that in 1287 the Mongols attacked Vietnam and were driven back.  Many Mongolian ships were set afire and drifted towards the shore of Bai Chay, setting the forest that then surrounded the beach ablaze. From that day onwards, it’s been known as the Scorched Beach.

From Bai Chay, you can hire a boat or take a luxury cruise and go out to Ha Long Bay and absorb the mystical qualities and the surrealistic scenery that defines this place. The limestone formations are awesome and over thousands of years the bases of many have corroded to the point where they seem to be balancing on thin air. Seen from afar or above, it really is possible to believe that these incredible formations are the teeth of dragons!

Mention Vietnam and some may think of “Apocalypse Now” or student protests against the war or the place where most of your trainers appear to be made….

Whatever your view of Vietnam, it’s bound to be influenced by history that simply no longer holds true.  The fact is this South East Asian country is one of the most stunning and beautiful places on the planet.

The major centres of population include Ho Chi Minh City, still the largest city in Vietnam.  Under the name Saigon it was the capital of South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975 and either “fell” from an American perspective, or was “liberated” from a Vietnamese viewpoint the following year.   It was officially renamed Ho Chí Minh City, although the name Saigon is still commonly used.

A thousand miles north from Ho Chi Minh City lies Hanoi, the capital and second-largest city of Vietnam.  For almost 800 years, Hanoi was the political centre of an independent Vietnam, although that role was briefly taken by Hue during the Nguyen Dynasty.   Hanoi again served as the capital of French Indochina from 1887 to 1954 and then until 1976, when it was the capital of North Vietnam.

In between are magnificent coastal towns and villages including Hue, the beach resort that is now  Nha Trang and Hoi An.  Of these, Hoi An has proved immensely popular and the old town was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1999.  Many visit for the numerous art and craft shops – lanterns abound in Hoi An – and tailors who produce made-to-measure clothes for a fraction of the western price in what seems a matter of minutes.

Further north, above Hanoi is the magnificent Ha Long Bay.  This UNESCO World Heritage site features thousands of limestone karsts and islets in various sizes and shapes scattered around the seascape.   More on Ha Long Bay in our next blog!