Good morning Vietnam!

Alex here, signing in to let you know that im still alive n alls well in the nam! (wish i kept this upto date more) After the lazy week in the nice Hotel in Hanoi me Carlie n Rach went to Halong bay. Halong Bay consists of thousands of little islands (like what they have in phi ph, very beautiful) We took a boat ride over to one of te bigger islands and stayed on there for a couple of days. We decided to hire some mopeds out so we could get to see more of the islands so rented 3 bikes off these little vietnamese blokes. Now rach n I know how to ride a bike with gears but Carlie didnt have a clue n after 5 mins ended up nearly threw a stalls window with the bike on top of her!!! We handed her bike back (luckily with no marks) and she got on the back of me. The following day we caught a ferry n then a bus to the next stop called Nim bin where we mwt the 2 other Northern muppets called Joe n Duncan.

Nim bins a tiny little town in the middle of no where n theres hardly any English, nevermind Northern Monkeys so as soon as we heard their accents, we all got talking! We were meant to be catching another bus that night but sacked it off n went to a local footie match at a massive stadium with the lads instead!

After the match we we went back to get changed then went out to a local bar where the local beer was 6p a pint.... yes 6p!! You can imagine the state we got in. Ended up in this resturant that had a 'turn' on, well as soon as we got in n saw there was a mike on a stage that was it, we took over the place n was straight up on the stage (uninvited!) singing to all the vietnamese people that were sat there in shock! I stood up n said over mike 'hello were going sing a song to you from england' n started singing happy birthday to me for some stupid reason whilst rapping half way through it! After we all totally took over thinking we were celebraties or somat they switched all the music off whilst the vietnamese slowly clapped cos they dint know what else to do!! Top night!!! The following day, although was very rough was one of my favourite days so far. Me Dunc, Joe n Rach hired out some mopeds n drove for miles through the small villages with cattle n goats on the road. We also went on a rowing boat too which was really nice. I cant tell you how much i enjoyed just driving through all the rice fields n mountains whilst stopping to talk to local kids n that..... loves it!!

After Nim bin we caught the over night bus with beds on it (beds made for midgets!) to hoian. Stopped here for about 4 days to get our clothes n coats made. One of the best places in the world to get clothes taylored. Think i went a bit over board having 3 coats, 2 skirts, 1 dress n 3 tops designed n made but they all cost next to nothing so was worth it. On our last night here also met back up with Dunc n Joe n went to a beach n pool party.... another good night!

After Hoian we headed further south to vietnams party town, Na trang, and have done nothing but party for the past week! It was Carlies B.day so celebrated in style n went on a local booze cruise. It was ace (started drinking at 9am!) Met loads of fab people n got wrecked. They have a floating bar in the middle of the sea where you get free cocktails. Also called off at a few islands n had a game of beach volley ball with everyone. By the end of the booze cruise everyone were well on their way so we all ran home to get changed n met back up half an hr later at the sailing club. I never rush for anything but on this one occasion did so jumped in shower n was as quick as i could then ran out n shouted to rach 'GO GO GO' but in the process went skidding on the marble floor n was laid out starkers n couldnt get up for laughing!!

The night got even funnier when i got knocked over by a bike..... wait for it...... push bike! n caused a right scene by not getting up for ages n a massive crowd coming round me, but really there was nothing wrong n didnt even hurt!! Then at the end of the crazy night called off at a noodle stall with rach where the little vietnamese women helped to feed me cos couldnt shove it in my mouth fast enough! The women was in stitches cos i dint even look up as she started shoving the food in my mouth with the chopsticks aswell as me shoving it in with the spoon! I was a disgrace n think a dog would have had better table manners!

The next few nights were all pretty similar, we'd meet up with everyone inc dunc and Joe, all go out for a nice meal then hit the bars later. Some of the bars were smarter than the ones you'd find in leeds or somewhere so we made the most of them! Na trang has also got a lovely beach n nice pool so through the day we'd top up our tans (im all nice and brown again now, still fat though!) Having said bye to everyone, including a tearful bye to Rach n Carlie, im now in Hoi chi min City where im waiting to catch the 2 day 1 night sunshine bus back to Bangkok to catch my flight to NZ. Just bumped into Kenny n Nick (the 2 old "Landan" blokes so off for a quick drink with them then its an early night, long day tomo! XXXXXXXXXXXXX