Xin Chao dear friends,

Already a week ago since we hit the road so it's about time to inform you on our great adventures. Almost didn't forget to pack anything (thank you Singapore Airlines for providing a toothbrush for this trip..)

First stop Singapore, which is probably the most Western country in South East Asia.. which also means paying European prices or worse.. €16 a night for an 11 bed dorm room (bunkbed style) and €4 for a beer in "cheap" Chinatown.. don't even think about getting a beer in the Marina Bay area..

After 2 days of eating Chicken Masala in Little India, drinking beers in Chinatown and beachfooty at Sintosa Island we were ready for the "real" South East Asia as we flew (2nd free toothbrush, backpacker style ) into Hanoi, Vietnam.

Welcome to Scam City with, so it seems, as many dodgy travel agencies as there are scooterbikes. We thought to be ready and totally scam-proof as the taxi driver made sure he would take us to Hoam Kiem Lake in central Hanoi.. obviously we never arrived and were dropped off 3km from the lake at the "cheapest hotel in the city".. right, after a long hike through the chaotic streets of Vietnam's capital we finally arrived.

After a day of trying not to get killed by scooterbikes we spent 3 days on a boat in Halong Bay and on Cat Ba Island. Obviously, as true pirates, we came prepared with our own bottle of rum as prices for alcohol on the boat were sky high. Did a jungle trekking on the island, swinging vines and climbing through Vietnamese-sized caves, they were surely not meant for our bodies..

We really have to start working on our planning skills.. As we arrived at Hanoi train station to go to Sapa just hours before the train was leaving. This without booking tickets in advance. Result; a 6 person "hard-sleeper" cabin.. if they say in Vietnam it's a hard bed, it is a hard bed (as we can now confirm from our own experience). Luckily the overnight train took just over 11 hours...

The train actually stopped in Lao Cai from where minibusses are heading into Sapa. After some great negotiating we got a bus for just 40.000 VND (€1,37) whereas other passengers on the same bus were paying 150.000VND.. guess we start to adjust to the local ways of doing things..

We are in Sapa now admiring the beautiful landscapes, rice terraces and local hill tribes while sleeping for just under €6 for a twin room in a pretty nice hotel..

So far for now, we're off drinking a local beer for €0,23

See ya