HELLO to you all!!!!!

Firstly, we apologise that it has taken so long to post an update. We havent been able to find internet for long enough to write our news, plus we wanted to wait until we had some interesting news to tell you. . . .

So, the last time that we blogged, we were dreading the thought of another overnight coach journey to Vietnam's capital city . . . Hanoi!! Well, we made it . . . . just! This time the drivers werent horn happy they were just dodgy as f***. Every half hour these two drivers, and i use the term 'drivers' very loosely, were the Vietnamese version of Laurel and Hardy. One had the dodgiest tash ever with a bowl haircut the other, (I liked to think of him as the sidekick) a strange little guy with little man syndrome! Anyways, we got pulled twice by the police, the guys managed to drop off a s*** load of beer to a random van on the street and several envolopes of cash were changing hands at the many petrol stops. 21 hours later . . . . we arrive!

Dumped in somewhere that 'stig of the dump' would even turn down as a home, we shared a taxi with some American lad to 'Central Backpackers Hostel'. Seriously if you are thinking of going to Hanoi, I recommend it. $5 a night in a dorm, which is big banter btw, free beer between 7-8 every night, and free breaskfast. We made the most of our first hostel so far and booked in for three nights.

As we arrived at 9am, we were tired but we decided to 'man up' and go exploring. For a capital city, it really didnt offer a lot and to be honest we were quite dissapointed with it. We visited a prison musuem, which was . . . . erm a museum plastered with Propaganda and Vietnamese things. We didnt learn a lot from the visit, put it that way.

Still we were looking forward to the free beer, and the chance to experience hostel life and meet a s*** load of people...we certainly did that. Giving ourselves a much needed motavational kick up the arse, we went down to the 'drinking room' with our deck of cards. There were a lot of Americans and Australians and one other English guy... His travelling attire was a blazer, loafers and shirt...very strange, it summed it up when he picked up his pint glass with his pinky out...

Still, we introduced our drinking games and by 8 everyone was smashed, dares were flying thick and fast, toes were licked, arses were shown, naked karaoke and a whole lot more. In the end it turned out to be a let down as it turned out Hanoi on a thursday night was not the place to be.. Still a good night was had and friends were made.

We booked a trip to the famous Halong Bay the next day, so in our hungover state we opted for the cheap option that everyone had warned us against! Usual trips for 2nights and 3 days costed between $60 - $150. We rolled up and got it for $30 ...typical us! That was for two days time. We found the leisure centre that afternoon as it was cold and we were thinking 'what would be doing in England right now' so we went swimming lol.

That night our bowels decided that they didnt like Hanoi either, and the toilet got a lot of loving . . . bed early doors, toilet on standby.

Feeling better, we got up and had a wander around town with a nice couple who arrived the previous night. They had been volunteering in North Vietnam so we went around with them and had some 'pho' for lunch. Its like a noodle soup with meatballs in - very nice and also very risky considering my bowel movement.

Free beer again, and the same guys were out. We had Halong Bay the next morning so we werent planning on being out late . . . yer, well that quickly changed.

We smashed the free beer and again, more games and stupidness. Then we went to this bucket bar. We wanted a free t-shirt so brought a 'f*** me up' bucket . . . it was just like ronseal, did exactly what it said on the tin. That then developed in to our faces being painted, or rather, destroyed and the night carrying on in a very messy way. Home at 3, up at 7 hahahaha.

Being woken up, whilst your still pissed isn't nice.... but being woken up, whilst your still pissed, with Lauren looking at you with sick on her top, by the bed, on the floor to the toilet, in the toilet, in the shower, in the sink and in the dorm with 16 people in, really isnt nice.... Waking up to sick that smells of chicken super noodles for some reaseon was a sign of things to come that day. We managed to get to the booking office at 8 (f*** knows how) still covered in face paint and we waited .... and waited .... and waited. Hour and ten minutes later and no bus. The shop was shut too, and we began thinking our naivity might have cost us. . . we eventually got through to the shop owner and he came down and amazingly apologised and gave us our money back.. We had a flight booked to Thailand on