After a few days in Hanoi we ventured to Sapa, a very welcome break from the noise and pollution. Also i have to add, the people. We have been turned away from many food stalls and refused service in shops, even internet cafes have charged us thrice the price that was advertised. So going into the mountains was well needed. We caught the overnight train for 9hrs on which i had no sleep as we stupidly took 3rd class andi had the top bunk (6 in each cabin) where my nose was touching the ceiling! On arrival it was drizzly and verrry cold! So we wrapped up ready for our hike through the rice terraces to the village where we would stay overnight with a vietnamese family. It soon warmed up and the layers came off, especially as the terrain we were hiking on is not somethin we have experienced yet. We got folloed the whole way but H'mong people (a tribe that live there) and we knew that at the end they would force sale upon us so we tried to avoid any conversation. The homestay was not as authentic as imagined but stillan experience, we did karaoke and the host tried to force Sake down us but we refused. Even using tricks such as filling our cups up with water! The next morning we pulled our aching legs outta bed and trekked once more. Our sleep was disturbed as it was freezing and the wooden house had gaps for the breeze to come in. It was a lovely day and the clouds had cleared, the scenery was breathtaking. I still got sunburnt even though it was like 6degrees! That night we got the train back again, this time a bit cleaner but sharing with Vietnamese men meant a smelly cabin! We are now back in the same guesthouse along "meat street", thats what we call it as its a meat market full of dead and alive beasts waiting for the slaughter. A net full of frogs one by one having their heads cut off alive and their headless bodies still wiggling! Not very fun on a hangover. Yes we also share our hotel with a rat but its cheap. We have found a really good restaurant here which we must have been to about 12times now! We stick to it to be on the safe side. And no its not KFC, although that has featured a few times whilst being in Hanoi.

So, we are here now awaiting the return of Leanne from her week back in England to graduate. She is also bringing along Lucys boyfriend so there will be 5 of us for 10days. When you next hear from me i will be in Laos, we leave on Friday 12th and take a 24hr SEAT bus there, they dont do sleeper buses so we think we will just stock up on the valium! Also weve just been to see the New James Bond and loved it,got so into it thought i was back in Ashford!