Didn't sleep too well on the plane but when you're woken up at 4am to eat it kind of throws your sleep out a bit. Hong Kong Airport was fantastic and just what we needed, Starbucks and Burger King(recon we'll be off the curries for a while), then a wonder around the kind of shops we'd forgotten existed. Really good food on the flight to Hanoi and we got through with no problems with our visas which is always a relief. Got a really nice hotel and got a minibus for $6 dollars instead of a taxi for $30, don't feel bad about spending more on a hotel now. Our room has internet so got straight on to let everyone know we'd arrived safe and sound. Having a walk around Hanoi, although very busy with mostly motorbikes, there was so much going on. It's something like the 99th year that Hanoi has been the Capital so there were lots of people and events around the Hoan Kiem Lake, with balloons and lights over the water. Went to Jazz Club by Quyen Van Minh which was good fun, they had Vietnamese and Western musicians and had a great atmosphere. Back to the sweet hotel for a well earned sleep.

Sunday 11th October

Must have been pretty tired, stayed in bed til midday. Tom went down for coffees but the novalty of having a duvet and aircon made it too comfy to get up. We booked the room for another night and went for another wonder aroung the Lake. It's a nice walk around, little paths surrounded by flowers and lots of greenary not something we saw much of in India, and couples holding hands, it seemed really strange that we could do that again. In India it was common to see men holding hands but not with women. Anyway had a few drinks in Le Pub and found a more traditional place for dinner, little plastic tables and chairs along the pavement. I had some spring rolls and pumpkin stems with garlic, Tom had calamari and fried noodles with beef-all was yum. Back to the hotel to Skype, managed to see Flick but couldn't hear her very well but nice all the same to have a bit of contact with home, managed to see the beautiful engagement ring and Wedding invites-far too organised.

Monday 12th October

A quote from my book News from no mans land, 'Sometimes I think that first impressions are all that count, because they show you how extraordinarily different and exciting life in a new place is. All too quickly you become used to them, and...they all become part of the ordinariness of life instead of it's extraordinariness.' Reminded me to make the most of where we are and not to take it for granted. Got a room at the Bamboo Hotel so booked a taxi from the Rising Dragon thinking we then couldn't get ripped off and we knew where we were going, we went on a long detour all the way round the lake, not impressed and let the taxi driver know all about it. We've booked Halong Bay for tomorrow but there are apparently storms heading our way so we'll have to wait and see. Saw Hanoi's Water Puppet Theatre which was pretty funny in parts and worth seeing, the puppeteers stand behind a screen in water and move the puppets on long poles under the water, you have to see it really.

Tuesday, 13th October

'Bad storms at Halong Bay' the receptionist informed us so no boats would be going out on the bay, bit disappointed as I'm not all that keen on spending my birthday in Hanoi or travelling to or from Halong Bay on a us so we'll have to make a decision tomorrow on whether to wait or move on. Had a dodgey breakfast then headed out for a wonder around a new area of the city, we found a guy who'll make my card design stamp for 10,000d, so pick it up on Thursday.Got through a few happy vodkas at Le Bar.

Wednesday, 14th October

Rain, lots of rain, we've decided not to hang around, the weather up here's not set to get much better, mooched about and ate lots of spring rolls while waiting for the night bus to Hoi An. Looking forward to seeing Jules tomorrow.