The $2 That Made Me Feel Small (In a Good Way)

There’s a spot above Halong Bay where the boats look like toys and the limestone islands scatter like someone dropped a handful of marbles. It costs $2 to climb up there. Not a guided tour, not a luxury cruise—just a sweaty, uneven staircase and your own shaky legs. I remember standing at the top, breathless for reasons that had nothing to do with the view. It wasn’t awe, exactly. More like relief. For a few minutes, I wasn’t worrying about what I’d do next, or if I was wasting my time, or if I’d ever really feel at home anywhere. I just stood there, quietly small, and let the world be bigger than me. That’s what $2 bought me. Not a view, but a pause. #TravelConfessions #HalongBayMoments #CheapThrills #Travel