Back in Bangkok

Today we decided to start our day like the Thai people do and get a taxi boat down the river. Then we hopped off and wandered around a market and a shopping plaza. Then it only seemed right to head back to Khao San road, something about it feels quite homely to us now! We each bought the last few things we wanted to buy and then had some street food for dinner. We're going to head back to our hotel now and chill on the comfy sofas for a bit before getting an early night! We have a taxi booked for 3.30am tomorrow to take us to the airport to go home.

So here it is my last blog entry, until I go travelling again anyway, who knows where that could be....! I'm thinking maybe more of Asia, South America or Australia hmmmmm....

I'm definately going to miss the food, the smoothies, the people we've met, the places we've been, the little bungalows we've stayed in, the beach, how cheap everything is and the constant excitement of going to new places. I definately won't miss being asked if I want a tuk tuk, a cyclo, a taxi, a motorbike, where I'm going, where I'm from or if I want to buy cigarettes, chewing gum, cold drinks or souvenirs.

Lots of love to any friends and family who've been following me and I'll see you all very soon! And thanks to Michelle for some amazing adventures. Bye for now. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ho Chi Minh

We got a day bus from Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh (otherwise known as Saigon), unfortunately we only had one night there but we got up early the next day and went to the War Remnants Museum in the morning. Apparently the Chi Chi tunnels used in the war are well worth a visit too but we just didn't have time. The museum had some horrific photos in it but it really brings home how bad the war was and was definately worth going to. On our taxi ride home the meter was obviously faulty as it kept jumping up in random amounts, so our taxi ride was already more expensive than it should have been but we couldn't be bothered to argue. I handed him a 200 note (worth about 6 pound 50), needing 100 change and he claimed I only gave him a 20, the cheek of it! Anyway we argued for some time but he wasn't having any of it so Michelle grabbed the 20 note out of his hand and we got out of the taxi. I've been waiting for something like that to happen the whole trip! Arrrgh annoying but I couldn't help but think atleast it's something to write about in my blog....! Then we got our flight back to Bangkok. We're staying in a really nice hotel, it was 12 pound 50 a night so even though it's not alot its about 3 X what we've paid everywhere else, so it seems pretty luxury to us. One last day in Bangkok today and then home time tomorrow!

Nha Trang

We met a deutch girl and two english guys in a bar a couple of nights ago and spent yesterday with them. We went to Vinpearl - Vietnams equivalent to thorpe park. You get over to the island on a 15 minute cable car. We went on the water slides, went to the aquarium, spent time on the beach and watched a 4D film, all in all a fun day with good people! We then had dinner and drinks with them last night too.

Gettting a day bus today to Ho Chi Minh and staying there one night before we fly back to Bangkok, so little time left!

Two photos of our time in Nha Trang:

Hoi An > Nha Trang

Had such a nice day yesterday in Hoi An. We definately chose the right place to do a cooking course! It cost us 15 dollars each. First the chef walked us around the local market for about an hour, telling us about all the different types of food. Then we went back to the restaraunt and we made spring rolls, tofu salad, sweet and sour vegetables and eggplant with an onion and tomato sauce. I was particularly proud of my spring rolls and the swans we made out of tomatoes to go with the tofu salad! Then we spent a couple of hours chilling in a garden cafe, with yet another smoothie mmmmm. Next we went to our tailoring appointments. I love my red coat, it fits perfectly, is very warm and I finally have a winter coat with a hood. The boots are a bit tight on the legs but I think they will stretch once I wear them a few times. Michelle is happy with her dress and shoes too.

The food market:

Me in our cooking class:

Our night journey to Nha Trang was fine and there was no loud music this time, which is always a plus! A 12 hour journey now seems pretty short compared to other journeys we've done. We arrived at 6am, found our 4 dollar each a night hotel and had showers. It's 9am now, just waiting for Michelle to finish getting ready and then we'll go for breakfast. Then I think the plan is to go to the beach and possibly check out some mud baths.

Halong Bay / Hoi An

We booked Halong Bay through Hanoi backpackers so it was all young people on the boat. Would have liked to have done 2 nights, 3 days but only had enough time to do 1 night, 2 days. There were 31 people on the boat so over the 2 days we spoke to a fair few of them! On the first day we got on to the 'Jolly Rogger' and had lunch (which was delicious) , then we checked in to our rooms. We got some time to jump off the boat and swim, luckily I didn't see any jellyfish. Then we kayaked (yes me I kayaked) and it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, having kayaked only once before with guides! We kayaked over to a cave and had to crawl through in the dark, stupidly me and Michelle were both wearing flip flops. At the end of the cave there was a fresh water pool. Apparently reminence of pre historic man have been found in some of the caves. Then we kayaked back, which was a work out and a half but we got back in the end. Then we had a shower and had dinner (again delicious). After dinner we chilled up on the top deck, then the drinking games began....... The usual ring of fire was replaced by dragon of fire and the rules were slightly worse. Then we spent the rest of the night drinking, dancing and chatting, spending most of our time with two posh 18 year old boys (who made me feel extremely old), a Canadian girl and 2 girls from New Zealand. Lots of people stayed up till 5am but seeing as we had to get up at 7am the next day I decided to hit the hay at 2am and get a few hours sleep. The next day we chilled on the deck and travelled back to Hanoi.

Two photos of Halong Bay:

We had some dinner and then thought we were getting a pick up to go to our night bus, infact they sent two motorbikes, no helmets and expected us to get on with our backpacks! In Hanoi, are you serious? We eventually managed to get a free car to the bus, I think the man was a bit annoyed with me seeing as he shouted ''free taxi'' in my face. The night bus was more comfortable than the last one and not as long, so was ok. They still insisted on playing the tv very loudly at the beginning, and even put flashing green and red rave lights throughout the bus, but it didn't go on for too long so we got some sleep. We then had to get a bus from Hue to Hoi An and ended up paying an extra 4 dollars because we couldn't find the bus we were meant to be on, seeing as they dropped us at a random hotel and not the bus station it was a bit difficult.

We found a nice hotel in Hoi An for 6 dollars each a night and there's even a pool. We've been hassled quite a bit in Hoi An and again theres alot of motorbikes, but apart from that it seems nice! Shame we only have time to stay for 1 night.I went a bit over budget today and got a red coat and brown boots tailored, Hoi An is famous for it! I decided it was ok as I need to buy them anyway for winter in Leeds. Together they cost 70 dollars, so just over 50 pounds, tomorrow we go to pick them up so hopefully they fit well! We are also doing a cooking class tomorrow before getting ANOTHER night bus to Nha Trang.

Hanoi

Hanoi is crazyyyyyyyyy! Everyone said the traffic was bad but didn't expect it to be this bad. Nearly got run over about 100 times today. Motorbikes everywhere!

Had a wonder around Hanoi this morning and accidentally bought a couple more dvds, I can't help myself! They are about 80p each! Had a lovely passionfruit smoothie, possibly the best one of my trip (and I've had alot!) Just wondered around the city and got a feel for the place. You get hassled quite alot here.

Manged to skype Mum and Dad which was really good and the internets free here which is a plus. Then we went to a bbq up on the roof top of our hostel, which was cool.

This evening we went to a 'water puppet show'. At first we attempted to walk there but after nearly getting run over many times we jumped in a cyclo! It's a bike with a seat on the front. Michelle took a video of the traffic from the cyclo of us winding through the traffic and it gives a good jist of how crazy it is. The puppet show was actually really good! Very cleverly done and funny to watch. A nice chilled evening.

At 8am tomorrow we go on our Halong Bay boat trip, so think we will get another early night. We get to stay on the boat overnight and it looks really cool from the pictures! Apparently there are sometimes jellyfish, so I'm a bit scared about getting in the water. I'm sure I will though, the water looks aqua blue in pictures I've seen. We get back at 4pm the next day and then get on a night bus to Hoi An at 6pm. Vietnam is a bit rushed as we stayed so long in Vang Vieng.

Goodbye Laos, Hello Vietnam!

Such a good time in Vang Vieng (aside from a minor incident with a dog)! Said goodbye to everyone we met there, was sad to leave (think I'll be back one day) but reckon Vietnam is going to be good. Here is an account of our epic journey from Laos to Vietnam:

1pm: Picked up by a tuk tuk, about 10 of us crammed in with our backpacks. Taken to bus station.

1.51pm: Sitting in our 'VIP bus' , alot better than the last one we had, looking promising.

5.30pm: Arrived in Vientianne. This time yesterday  I was sat by the river drinking Laos' speciality Tiger Whisky.

6.00pm: Waiting in bus station for next bus.

6.15pm: Off we go in another tuk tuk, definately not enoughroom for all 14 of us.

7.00pm: In our 'VIP bus' not actually that bad, soooo glad we paid extra for the privilege of being able to lie down. Glad i'm short, the beds just about the right length for me. They just turned off the lights and it's only 7pm, think i'm going to struggle to read my magazine! People in front of us taking valium, everyone seems to take it on the bus journeys here.

7.23pm: Some awful dance competition been put on the tv, just what I wanted to listen to!!

9.25pm: Raining heavily! Bus leaking slightly. Gecko at the back of bus. Made a stop off and got some rice, courgette and omlette.

10.51pm: Just let loads of locals on to the bus, getting crammed!

11.15pm: People talking far louder than necessary.

2.10am: How can someone snore this loudly? Maybe I should have jumped on the valium bandwagon.

2.20am: Arrive at the border, even though it doesn't open for hours.....

6.15am: Music put on. Who on earth wants to listen to this at 6.15am?!

6.45am: Get off bus, get passport checked. Some people considering moving bus because of the noise.

7.15am: Walk 15 minutes across bridge.

7.30am: Waiting around.

8.00am: Put bags through xray, now waiting again.

8.50am: Still waiting..........what are we even waiting for? Huge stick insect being passed around.

9.15am: Finally back on bus!

10.53am: Tv back on. English guy now playing rage against the machine on speakers in protest. Toilet stop but no toilet just an option to pee in the mountains.

11.41am: Ipod out of battery :(

12.28pm: Stop off for lunch. Didn't get one for breakfast. Guy casually smoking a bong as we walk in to the stop off restaraunt. Took me a long time to explain I only wanted tofu with my rice and not a random collection of meats (god knows what they were).

3.13pm: Bum hurtsso much! Hope we are there soon. Now been on the road for over 26 hours.

5.53pm: Still on bus!! (Nearly 29 hours)

6.35pm: Finally arrived in Hanoi, now to find our hostel.....

9.49pm: In our hostel now - the new Hanoi backpackers hostel which alot of people have recommended to us!! Had a yummy veggie burger for dinner. Looks very lively here but far too tired to consider a night out, off to bed now!

A picture of where we sat for 28 hours...... :