The rain and thunder kept me awake for a few minutes last night - tin roofs are not a good idea!

We set off for a great walk up to a small village that is built along a ridge, it started on concrete “roads” built for motorbikes. The next part was down through the most beautiful paddy fields, I was the only tourist that managed it - it was steep and wet and muddy and sadly one of my companions suffered from Vertigo and she just couldn’t go on. Chu and I continued down while she and her partner circled back to meet us down the hill.

Chu leapt from stone to stone, she balanced on the water channel walls and I didn’t. I balanced when it was horizontal but when it was going down hill at a very steep angle I chose the mud. It was worth it we came round a corner and the paddy fields were created in the most amazing patterns. All had water in them and it was just fabulous.

We continued leaping or splashing our way through the fields until we rejoined our travel companions. As usual it was worth the mud, aching legs and pink face.

The afternoon journey back to Hanoi was perfect - in fact too perfect as we were early at each stage so had to wait. I was put on to a sleeper which was fine for little old me, as it was rather like sitting on a sun lounger- someone taller would have had problems. Arrived in Hanoi at 9pm arranged travel to Tam Coc by 9.30pm with an actual person who was still working - I love Vietnam.