Hey guys,
sorry i havent been on here for so long been really busy and not been on the internet much!!

Well the 24hr bus was a nightmare we ended up with a drunk vietnamese bloke sitting behind us that kept kicking us wasnt nice and he was really creepy so took it in turns to go to sleep and turns out bus for some stupid reason gets to the border at 2am and u just have to sit there and wait until border opens at 7am!! but got to hanoi ok!! hanoi was crazy really busy and i ended up getting hit by a bike (luckily only a bicycle) but still hurt and ian nearly got run over about 20 times and he kept getting really annoyed! the first day in hanoi we went and walked around the lake and went to the temple on the island in the middle of the lake and then on to the prison where the american pows were kept! prison was originally built by french and had a very french feel with lots of pro-gov propoganda! but was really strange as only kept one part as a museum and on space where rest of the prison was is a office block and really posh hotel!

The next day we went to Ho chi minh's masoleum was ok but strange seeing the dead body and really strict werent allowed to cross ur arms as u walked! also went and saw the houses where he lived in the palace and the one-pillar pagoda which was strange as tiny pagoda on a massive concrete pillar! then we went to the ho chi minh museum was one of the most surreal places ever been to didnt understand most of the symbolism as v abstract!! one thing was a massive out of shape table and massive plastic fruit which apparently shows that young people are the future!!

The following day we went to Halong bay paid a bit extra so went on a really posh boat!! rained all the way in the mini-bus from hanoi but luckily stopped when we got on the boat although still cloudy and misty!! they made us sit down for lunch though just as start going through the islands was really annoying as wanted to sit on the top and watch but food amazing! then we went out to a cave which was quite a way through the islands was so excited took so many photos was jkust so beautiful! the cave was really good too really big although in it there is a bit of sticking out rock that supposedly looks like a penis and just to emphasize it it is lit up with red lights so it glows orange!! then sailed a little way back and stopped next to a floating house and raft and went kayaking again!! i know i said never again but was so calm and ian persuaded me was quite scary though as was in a really narrow canoe not like the wider kayaks we had used before and was so wobbily no where near as stable as others but was ok went all the way around this big island that the guide suggested as quiet was lovely as only us really peaceful also good to go around the island so dont get lost as all the little islands look the same and all the boats look the same! we did see two boys who were lost!! so braved it but didnt go any further than around the island but that took us about an hour and was glad we did it even though saw a really big jellyfish! we stayed attached to the raft all night!! again the food was lovely for dinner and that evening a load of us just sat on the top deck and admired the views although so many boats around us could see outline of the islands! was freezing up there though and ian fogot to take a jumper!!

The next day we got up early for sunrise but still cloudy and misty so went back to sleep for an hour then bag on top deck for when the boat started to move! we went to the biggest island as some people were staying there then sailed back to mainland was so pretty def best bit of vietnam!!

we got back to hanoi then got the night bus to hue, on the first day in hur we went to the royal enclosure and walked around there although a lot was just ruins! and we got soaking wet as rained really heavily!! then the next day we did a trip out to the demilitarised zone and went into the tunnels was good though these ones are larger than at HCMC so wasnt too bad had to duck most of the time but not too small and remembered my torch which was good!! also went to an american air base and some little statues and saw the river that marked old north south border! was a long day though loads of time on the bus!! the following morning we went out to some royal tombs which were stunning, one had a whole room with mosaic walls!! also went to the famous octagonal pagoda then got the bus to hoi an in the afternoon!! hotels are reallycheap in hoi an so ended up with a small indoor pool which was nic although so cold dont think it was heated! the next day we spent most of the day in tailors as this is the place to get clothes made i ended up with a silk dress and a skirt and top and a pair of high-heeled sandals and some pumps and ian got a suit and a pair of nice shoes and a pair of trainers! the next day we went to my son in the morning which is champa ruins and then spent the afternoon in tailors!! we actually saw someone shoot a bird out of a tree in the town centre as apparently good to eat - crazy!! the last day we did all the cultural things in hoi an and went to a museum a temple, an assembly hall, the japanese covered bridge and saw a folk concert! then got the night bus to nha trang!!

Nha trang was really nice spent the first day there on the beach which was lovely then the second day decided to try and get the cable car to an island as could see it! didnt realise island was a theme park so ended up going there they had a really good aquarium and a massive water park which ian loved as loads of slides they also had bumper cars and all the video games you could play for free so spent ages there then got cable car back and then taxi as dark!! we walked there and was much further than we realised and in midday sun and also got followed at one point so had to stop in a tour office and wait until he went away!!

The next morning we went to mui ne that afternoon we just chilled on the b3each then did a sunrise tour for the next day! was really good saw the sunrise over the sand dunes and ian went sand sledding which if course he loved!! then went to the other sand dunes!! and went to the fairy stream which u walk up until get to a waterfall!! started to walk up then had to walk on the grass for abit and i heard movement so looked around but couldnt see anything then a snake appeared was only really thin but quite long so got out of the way!! then ian was so scared so decided just to head back as i had already seen the waterfall when went with claudia and not that impressive anyway!! then we got the afternoon bus to saigon! but strom started as we got on the bus and drove through loads of storms and lots of roads flooded at some points up to people's knees!! so our backpacks were soaked when got to saigon so had no clothes!! put them all in the wash at the hotel and they turned loads of it pink so i had to throw away my top as that had pink patches and my grey jogging bottoms are now a funny pink colour!! wasnt v happy!! that day we did a city tour of saigon as not much time!! we went to a few temples, a market, the renaissance palace, notre dame and the post office was good but all things i saw when went there before!!

The following day we went on a trip to the mekong delta which was good, went through all little canals, which was really pretty on a little boat then saw coconut sweets being made then lunch then did tropical fruit tasting and tried local honey and snake wine!! although ian was upset as they had a snake that people could hold at the snake wine place! then we got tiny littly rowing boats through some narrow canals then back on to bigger boats and on to the mainland although where we stopped was a bit rough and boat got caught in a big wave so not too good some people started screaming!! and rocking so bad aas tried to get off!!

the next day flew from saigon to KL and had to pay loads for excess baggage as didnt want to post stuff from vietnam as not v relaible! thenafter found somewhere to stay we walked up to petronas towers so ian could take photos and went round shopping centre then ian had to take more photos of light up in the dark!! on sat we went to the KL tower and ended up having lunch in their restaurant which rotates was really good amazing view!! then went to the aquarium was all going really well then turned a corner and there was a snake just on a table as could have photos taken with it!! and ian refused to walk past, kept trying to persuade him but he wouldnt so in the end i just went and he did follow as loads of poepl around it so he couldnt see it! the next day we got up really early and went and got tickets to go up to the petronas skybridge!! got tickets for 6.30pm then went to the market and around the shopping centre again!!

The next day we posted all our things which took ages the boxes were a puzzle as had to put them together then went and got our bus tickets for the next day then went to petronas towers for yet more photos!! ended up in the bar of the traders hotel which was really posh and on top floor looking directly onto towers! they had a dress policy from 7.30 so had to leave then but saw towers at dusk!! and beer wasnt that bad! was a pool bar and really nice!!

then next day we got bus to lumut and ferry from there to pangkor island. that afternoon although not much left of it we went for a walk around and then saw sunsetfrom the beach! the next day we spent on the beach and the day after that we walked to next beach and spent day there! was lovely really quiet although everywhere was full from day we left as labour day is ppublic holiday so long weekend!!

The following day meant to get bus to penang!! got on bus ok but halfway there it broke down apparently the brakes went so had to wait 2 hours for replacement bus! then got ferry to penang! that evening we went to a shopping centre but wasnt that great! then today we went to a chinese assembly hall, a traditional rich persons house which was so pretty then to see the clocktower and to the fort!! was good though keeps raining!! and booked to go to perhentian islands tomorrow have to get bus at 5am though and ian is planning to stay up until 2am to watch football!! but obv i wont just hope we can find somewhere to stay as they said at this hotel that often full and try to book but cant seem to book any on internet and tried phoning but wouldnt work so just keeping our fingers crossed if not will arrange somewhere for next day and go back and stay on mainland for tomorrow night but hopefully will be ok!!

sorry so long!!
take care xxxxx