Can a holiday get any better when you are already satisfied? Yes...it can.

We are at the last few days of our holiday and on the most amazing boat cruising one of the most beautiful places on earth called Halong Bay in northern Vietnam. When we booked this tour we already knew we were to have something good, but due to a promotion we got upgraded to something better. We normally cannot afford luxury, but have it now for at least a few days.

Our room has the best bed I may have ever experienced, the bathroom has a shower I would want for my own home. The top floor of the boat has an elegant restaurant where we are served the most amazing food worthy of photos: tasty, beautiful presentation, great service and with an insane view from every window! I feel so fancy. There is an outdoor area that is a bar with many areas to sit and relax and on top of all that is a roof top deck with 360 degree views.

This area called Halong Bay is completely magical. Historically, it is ancient, mysterious, isolated and what movies are made of, literally. The massive, green covered limestone rock outcroppings are surreal and en masse create an alien water world landscape. We were able to take kayaks to a private beach to swim. The rock walls were shear over our heads with vegetation holding on for dear life. The only sound was of birds, waves and happiness. The water was incredibly warm and we found the most beautiful selection of little shells on the beach. We did not want it to end. As we returned to the boat and it continued to cruise, we could hear monkeys playing in the forested islands. An incredible day and we get blessed with one more. How lucky we are.

Day two was the realization that we can do luxury very well. I usually do not like a planned schedule of events, but I was enjoying this. Incredibly, at 48 years of age we normally are the older ones in a crowd, but not on this boat. The majority of guests were older Australians and though we did not meet everyone, they were all a pleasure. Even older Aussies have a dry, biting sense of humor that makes everything more fun. When you have two for one cocktail hour before dinner it gets even more interesting.

I am someone who has sworn I would never take a cruise, but this trip was the cruise of dreams. As great as it all was, the most important result was what it all did to me as an artist and a person. I feel rejuvenated, inspired and more in love with Vietnam. Now we must find jobs and hope those continue to inspire us and we are able to inspire others.

Thank you Vietnam!