My Vietnam adventures started with a 12 hour bus journey that turnd ut not to be as bad as i was expecting. The fact that the bus was air conditioned hid th fact that the further south we headed the hotter and more humi it got so by the time the journey was finished and we got off the bus we were hit with a wall of heat despite the fact that it was 8 in the evening. After we walked over the border (and some people had their China lonely planets taken off them by chinese immigration as they displayed taiwan as a seperate cuntry) and then got on another bus we were ready for bed as soon as we reached Sapa. The next day was spent relaxing and wondering around sapa and generally relaxing before the 2 day hike we had comin in the next few days. The trek started at 9 the next morning and we walked till 4 o'clock (with an hour stop for lunch) to a homestay where we wuld be spending the night. It was a very hot day but the trek tookus through some pretty amazing scenery so it was definately worthwhile. We also had the chance to go swimming near a waterfull on the other side of the village when we had downed our bags so most of us headed over there before having an amazing candfle lit tea in our guesthouse which was one of the best meals ive had so far on my travels. The electricity came on at 8 after we had finished our meal so we sat and chatted for a while before our vietnamese guide for the trek took us to a random huse in the village we wre staying in. He tyhen procedded to get 2 microphones out and turned on a kareoke set so that we could sing the night away. it was a very strange experience and the sight of everyone singing the time warp in this house in a vietnamese village in the middle of nowhere will stay with me for a very long time!

The next morning we had a short 1 hour trek to a bus that would take us back to sapa but it was all up hill and proved a lot hareder than the day before. needless to say we were all plaesed when we arrived back at the hotel and were able to shower. From sapa we then boarded an overnight train that took us to Hanoi.

The next few days in Sapa were spent orgainising a bed in the hostel for a night and orientating myself in the city, I also took a few rides on the back of the mototaxis that were everywhere which was very enjoyable. On the secongd night i found a bar showing the man u vs arsenal game and sat down to watch it with 3 malaysian guys who were very impressed that id actually been to old trafford to watch a game.

The next morning i arose bright an early to start a 2 day tour of Halong bay. After getting a bus we thern boarded a boat that took us round the bay and then anchored so that we culd get in some kayaks and explore the bay a bit closer up. The weather was really good and I have finally managed to get some colour in my skin!! After an early night we cruised arund the bay a bit more before heading back to Hanoi where i met up with Annie, Harriet and Lily who had been on the China trip earlier. Annie had decided to sack off her intrepid trip through Vietnam as it was full of Australian pensioners who had no desire to do or see anything. So she will now be accompanying me for the next week or so as we head south thrugh Vietnam. Last night was the night we left Hanoi to head to Hue and we had booked a sleeper coach to take us. The coach wasn't quite as expectyed and in the end there were 5 of us sleeping on very thin beds on the back row of the bus, needless to say it wasn't the best nights sleep i've ever had. We arrived in Hue this morning, slightly tired but ready for a days exploring so we checked into a hotel and are going to go and visit the citadel and local market later this afternoon.

Glad to hear that the decorations are going well at home, keep going on to everyone abut how much im looking forward to havin a wet room in the house.

Dad I believe that the rocks that u were enquiring about that look they way they do as they were formed under water and it is only recently that they have been above sea level. Hope this answers your question.

Mum I believe Lucy and Kay would be very gratefull for any old tat that you have lying arund that they would be able to use to furnish their new abode. Lucy's mobile number is 07734107605 and sure she would be very happy to hear from you.

I will try an upload some new photos soon but most of the cmputers are very slow so am only able to upload 2 or 3 and hour. Missing u x