So I have been upgraded to official STA Explorer and now I really am a celebrity (well, not really but the nearest I've got to stardom since the attention I got in China). They think I am "young, fit and adventurous" as that is what they're calling me. There is also a fairly detailed description of me and I was really freaked out for a while thinking they had spies following me around or something, until I remembered I had told them all this information...

Hello! eugh I am poorly so I am afraid this will not be a very sprightly blog. I think I have food poisoning which is not particularly good especially when it kicks in at the start of a bumpy four hour bus journey. I did however manage not to throw up on the bus which I think is an impressive feat and also retained my popularity with my tour group. The driving in Vietnam is even worse outside of the city. It's like a big race and vehicles overtake each other co...

So I have arrived safe and sound in Vietnam. I didn't do much on my last day in China but spent the day on another elusive hunt for my train tickets. This time when I tracked down the random tower-block they told me I needed to go to the train station. That's the last time I book through a tour operator! Then I had fun spending my last Yuan, for 80 Yuan (8 pounds) I bought: shoes, two pairs of socks, a T-shirt, a wallet, lunch and dinner. Sweet. At the train sta...