Caves and Parks
After getting reamed on the ferry into the island, we were weary of forking over more money for overpriced tours, so our first day we rented a motorbike and explored the island on our own.
Our first stop was the Hospital Cave, a cave which was finished during the "American War" as they call it here in order to serve as a hospital. Why use a cave inside a mountain, you ask? It can't be carpet bombed.
The rooms of the cave were mostly empty, but a few had mannequins set up which was pretty creepy. We walked around and used our imagination to see what it might have been like as a busy wartime hospital.
![Man-made stone walls embedded into a natural mountainside cave.](https://assets.chrisruppel.com/img/img@1280/cat-ba-hospital-cave-1.jpeg)
![Mannequin posed to look like it is working at a desk.](https://assets.chrisruppel.com/img/img@1280/cat-ba-hospital-cave-2.jpeg)
![Empty, bare, concrete hallway.](https://assets.chrisruppel.com/img/img@1280/cat-ba-hospital-cave-3.jpeg)
After seeing the cave we continued up the road to the national park. There were several paths but we chose the path to the peak. After a relatively light hike we reached the top. It was a great reward especially for such a light hike. Stunning view in all directions!
![Man posing for camera with jungle-covered mountain range in background.](https://assets.chrisruppel.com/img/img@1280/cat-ba-natl-park-1.jpeg)
![Steep stone pathway leading upwards.](https://assets.chrisruppel.com/img/img@1280/cat-ba-natl-park-2.jpeg)
![Woman smiling into camera with mountain range in background.](https://assets.chrisruppel.com/img/img@1280/cat-ba-natl-park-3.jpeg)
![Man smiling into camera while standing on a mountain.](https://assets.chrisruppel.com/img/img@1280/cat-ba-natl-park-4.jpeg)