A few days late but I've been busying sorting a few things out. I'm Finally back in Beijing but unfortunately have recently found out I will not be staying in China due to Visa issues. So it is with a heavy heart I say goodbye to the place that has been my home for a total of 2 years. I look forward to coming back in 2014.

After a rather comfortable over night train from Hanoi to Nanning I'm about to get the bus to the airport for my flight back to Beijjng. I met a lovely couple from London on the train to Nanning and got chatting. They kindly offered to take me to the hostel they were staying at so I could use their shower and freshen up in return for getting them there by taxi and taking them out for lunch and ordering for them. I hope my flight to Beijing won't be delayed as...

Ive just finished a 2 day cruise around Ha Long bay and it certainly lives up to its name. The sea is beautifully scattered with karst limestone peaks as far as the eye can see. We managed to see a cave and go kayaking around a fishing village, constantly unable to take in the true beauty of the area. It was unbelievable hard to appreciate such a paradise. I absolutely loved it. We shared the boat with a group of Dutch people. A great bunch of guys. We all got on...

Today we spent the morning getting ourselves acquainted with the area. For several hours we followed a route through the old quarter giving us a real taste of 'local' Hanoi. What was striking were the amount of temples hidden away behind shops or down little alleyways. You cannot go a single street without stumbling across a temple or two. All are very ornate and for many different purposes of worships. People would leave out offerings of food and drink and would...

We made it! Finally! It was a hell of a long journey, far longer than it should've been, but we're here. Let me elaborate... We spent our last day in China in Yangshou relaxing and taking in the beautiful scenery of the peaks around us. We ate a hearty breakfast (from a place recommended by our room mate Zach, from Canada) but got caught out in a torrential down pour so headed bak to the hostel. After spending hours organising our upcoming trip to Vietnam and t...