Hi Everyone!

We have just arrived in Hanoi after a night in the jungle followed by a night on a boat in Halong Bay.

After Hue (where after my last entry we went on a boat trip to see some temples, and for a lovely bike ride in the countryside), we took the bus to the jungle/rain forest.

Before going into the rain forest we visited a sanctury for primates. There were numerous different types of monkey in there - all very cute! Once in the jungle we checked in to our accommodation (very basic and where electricity was only turned on between 6pm and 10pm, and there was no hot water) then went for a trek. It started to rain whilst we were on the trek but it was quite refreshing really as we were climbing a really steep hill/mountain. The scenery looked like someting from "Gorrillas in the Mist" - beautiful!

The next day (yesterday) we got the bus to Halong Bay where straight away we got on a boat. It was very nice (especially as there are only 5 of us and the boat is made for at least 12 people!). As soon as we got on the boat lunch was served to us - it was yummy (lots of fresh fish). We sailed out to some caves which were very large and beautiful. Again this involved climbing a really big hill with lots of steps!! Inside the cave it looked a bit like I imagine the surface of the moon would look like. Also from the hill side was a lovely view of the boats in a bay with islands in the background - quite spectacular (pictures to follow). After the cave trip we bought dinner from a floating fish farm (very strange), and then went kayaking. Kayaking was lots of fun, and supprisingly I didn't get myself (or Sally) too wet in the process.

In the bay the scenery looked something like the islands in the film "Jurrasic Park". As it was quite misty they looked quite mysterious.

That night we had tea then watched Who Wants to be a Millionaire in Vienamese - very strange questions and the pirze money is only something like $80k!

This morning we got up early and traveeled to Hanoi (stopping off on the way at various places).

I have just had the most random experience this afternoon! When we arrived in Hanoi I was starving (we had breakfast really early and didn't get to Hanoi until about 1:30pm). Tan suggested that we went to Koto for lunch - a lovely restaurant that trains up ex-street kids in the restaurant trade. Anyway after eating nothing but rice, noodles, rice and more noodles for the past few weeks it was lovely to go there and have a steak sandwich followed by a big piece of chocolate cake and a coffee (coffee in most of Vietnam and Cambodia is like tar) - what a treat it tasted like heaven!!! Anyway that wasn't the random experience. The random experience was deciding to go to a spa after lunch for a beauty treatment (as it was raining and I have a couple more days in Hanoi to explore the city). I decided that as I had just had a piece of chocolate cake I should have a seaweed slimming wrap (or sliming wrap as the list called it). So I went in to the room expecting to be given a towel or a pair of paper pajamas or something to get changed into, and instead I was told to take all my clothes off!! It was too late to back out as I had already paid for the treatment - so I stripped off. All I was given to wear was a .............................. transparent shower cap!!! The lady then exfoliated me (everywhere!), then covered me in seaweed mud stuff and wrapped me up in silver foil like a turkey. I was then left to cook for about 20 minutes - I was boiling!!! All in all it was a fairly embarrasing experience - especially as my legs are covered in mosquito bites from the jungle and a massive bruise from when I really fell off a bicycle in Hoi An. He he - I can't wait to tell Sally and Kate the story they will find it very amusing!

Tommorrow we go sight seeing. We are going to see lots of stuff including the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh (which apparently is sent to Russia for a couple of months ayear for cleaning) - should be interesting!

Well - I had better go and get ready for dinner.

I won't be going near any spas for while !!

Love Louise x.