Alright chaps so a few things... 1) my cellphone isnt working. I dont know if thats a me thing or a Vietnam thing - Ive emailed ekit to ask that very question! I guess assume its not working until further notice. 2) according to this box of lights in front of me, facebook and sta travel blogs are now joined up so if Im reaching some new peeps - Hi! Nice to see you, hope you enjoy this site and dont take too great a offence at my spelling which my mum tells me is getting progressively worse. I cant even spell Australia, or at least I couldn't. 3) im hiding this in here so it isnt too shock horror, word may not have reached everyone yet but Beth and I will not be travelling together anymore. Enough said on that. So Im travelling alone for the first time ever (business doesnt count) - today was first new country where I arrived solo and it felt amazing. Ive been reading Lonely Planet and its got me so excited all the different things I could do here in Vietnam. Current number 1 ambition is to see a Javan Rhino which are endangered. Will have to go to a national park for that.. effort..

So, yes, Ive just arrived into Ho Chi Minh City. One final word on Hong Kong, it is the only airport Ive ever been through (and Ive been through A LOT) where it has its own train system to shuttle you to the gates. An underground one. Like - 'this train terminates at gate number 80'. I thought that was brilliant. Good old Hong Kong.

OK so HCMC or Saigon as all but officials call it. The traffic is nuts. Id been warned about this by fellow Intrepid China sufferer Dave (of Ireland) who assures me that if you just walk the traffic will stop. And I hope hes right because there are no crossings and the traffic is permanent and manic and I have never seen so many motorcycles IN MY LIFE. Its the type of city where youve got girls wearing summer dresses astride yamahas. Lord knows what happens when theres an accident, that lacy cardie isnt going to afford much protection! And there are LOADS and loads and loads of motorbikes. Loads. Everywhere, probably on the pavement, probably in the parks. They are taxis too. Dave Of Ireland has told me I must NOT travel by motorcycle taxi but I have a suspicion I will and that it'll be sensational. If not deadly.

I made them put me in a different hotel room as mine was essentially in the street it was so loud. Now Im on the top floor with a terrace (ooo fancy) but man its still loud, I just hope Ill get used to it. Failing that silicone earplugs havnt failed me yet.

Oh yeah one final thing from Hong Kong, a (rather crazy I have to say) lady from Zambia arrived in our dorm and talked to/at me for about 2 hours about world news and it was fantastic. We talked about Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong.. culture, politics, history and it was so interesting and not at all pretentious. I learned a whole heap of stuff.

I suspect mossies are eating me. And the cafe has just rolled down a metal door which doesnt bode well. Back to the 8th floor, the penthouse as I shall be calling it ;) (no idea how much its costing me yet. I think 1 pound is 30,000 dong, theyre suffering fairly major inflation right now - the mind boggles...) xx