Hello All!! Well of course its been far too long since we last updated you but it would seem that you're all used to our slow pace by now!! So I have to fill you all in on our adventures in Vietnam but we have done so so much I don't know where to begin - so I'll start from the beginning I suppose:!! After a heavy journey over from Cambodia to the Vietnam border we jumped onto a bus to Saigon. We had been warned to expect some overcharging from the Vietnamese (as they all think we travelers are rolling in cash!) but these guys had obviously heard about the obesity epidemic in England cos they tried to charge us double what the Vietnamese people next to us were paying - as if our arses take up more room than the next person! Of course on closer inspection the driver realized that James and I have smaller rears than most so we got away with paying the same!! So we then arrived in the wonderful city of Saigon where we found ourselves lodging with a Vietnamese family for a few days whilst we took in the sights. Here we also adopted a cyclo driver to show us around. Before the American War many of these cyclo drivers we met were doctors, teachers, journalists, or, like our cycloist, Nere, engineers. But like many of their friends they were punished for siding with the Americans, after the war these cyclo drivers were still assumed to be 'class enemies' and were stripped of their rights as citizens of Vietnam. Nere and his family are not allowed into jobs with any status as a result and so he makes his money carting fat tourists around town! To meet such an articulate man who was touched when we took him to lunch, it says heaps for the so-called 'Peoples Party' communism! Whilst on our tour of the city we came across a demonstration being held at the PM's house. A bunch of women were protesting about the money they gave to the government in the hope that it would be shared amongst the people under the communist incentive. These women were so disenchanted by the cause, and they were happy to tell me all about this until I was escorted away by the heavies!! James wasn't even allowed to take snaps! (Although he got a cheeky one in!) Our tour of Saigon also led us to the Zoo where we were to witness a live rabbit being fed to a tiger - we made a sharp exit after that exhibition!! So our first few days in Vietnam were way beyond expectation; the food, the people and the places were amazing - such a great start to such a wonderful adventure in this beautiful country! So we reluctantly left Saigon and headed northwards to the beachside town of Mui Ne. Arriving at 2 o'clock in the morning we managed to secure a room at a 5* resort for only $5! (with a lot of negotiating on James' part!) Hence the snaps lazing by the pool bar - not something we could usually expect on our backpackers budget! So after downsizing we explored this little coastal haven; surfed mountainous sand dunes, visited a fairy-like waterfall & sampled the infamous home brew with the locals! So with sore heads we took to the road again to visit the most magical little 'Alice in Wonderland' town of Dalat. Here we explored some of Vietnam's stunning scenery & were amazed at how random such a secluded little town can be! (Check out the snaps of the enchanted waterfalls, rolling hills, strange little houses & the odd cows head thrown on the side of the road for good measure!) Whilst here we visited a sauna for what we thought was a bargain massage & cupping treatment. Well it turned out this sauna also doubled as a brothel so we had a whale of a time turning down the various 'extras'! From Dalat we headed to the seaside resort of Nha Trang, and although we despise the tourist trap of things, we succumbed to the pressure to do a tacky boat trip - and god was it tacky! We ended up spending the day drinking from a 'floating bar', singing on the ships karaoke & and dancing on the deck! Still we exuded so much energy that our overnight bus trip to Hoi An was a dream.... So we arrived early in the quant little riverside town of Hoi An, and what a place it is! With the cute little fishing boats & colonial architecture, it really was such a joy to hire bicycles to explore. We also hired ourselves a little Vietnamese women for a sunset boat ride, which was so cute! The town itself is famous for its cloth markets so I couldn't help but indulge my shopping urge & have 3 beautiful dresses made - for a tenner! God I could have had a new wardrobe made if only my backpack wasn't already bulging! Whilst here we found a backpackers bar to watch England dismally loose to Portugal! So we dragged ourselves away from Hoi An with heavy hearts and even heavier bags to the vibrant riverside town of Hue. Where we spent a few days witnessing life on the river for the towns residents & exploring the breathtaking hill top temples. Then our journey took us far North to the capital of Hanoi where our expectations of even more vibrancy, lots more shopping, and loads more street life, were soon dispelled by the racism we experienced from the North Vietnamese people! Other travelers we had met along the way had warned us to expect a bit of racial tension - the memories of the American/Vietnam war forever looms in the minds of the Northerners - but we dismissed this as something easily overcome with a smile. But nothing could have prepared us for this!! We were overcharged for everything from a bus ticket to a bottle of water! Our dreams of sending home a huge package of goodies were dashed as the markets were ridden with thieves who cut open my bag - luckily they didn't get anything. But it was obvious that we Westerners were not welcome there, and if we were there they were going to exploit us! And so we made a quick getaway to Halong Bay where we had a few days on a gorgeous ship in the middle of paradise islands. Still the racial tensions hung over us so as we jumped ship we made our way to the Laos border...Where in one final act of defiance James found himself kidnapped by a bus driver because we refused to pay 10 times the normal bus because we were white! But he overcame him and broke the door of the bus! Before legging it to the border then into the sedate, tranquil, stunning refuge of Laos... Where we find ourselves chilling, drifting and loving our travels once again....