Nanning - Hanoi

Up I got. I had to let a couple into the hostel as they had arrived early and the owner was not back yet, even though it was about 8.30! The girls joined me downstairs at 9.00 and we went out the the main street. We found it suprisingly easy to hail a cab and were at the bus station by quarter past.

A brief faff about to find the gate and then sorted. The bus came, we got on, simples. It stopped a couple of times on the approach to the border and then before it dropped us at 'Friendship pass', stopped for a free lunch. Not bad either.

At the border we jumped off the bus and loaded our bags onto a little golf buggy style thing that took us to passport control etc. I took my bag off, dropped it down, and....oh.....leaking! Clear liquid. What on earth could that be? (I dip my finger and sniff). It smells fragrant, familiar.....Ah! Vodka!! I had forgotten about the bottle I bought in Russia and stuck at the bottom of my bag. So, now I had to get through security with a dripping bag, trying not to get it all over my clothes!

I made it, but later found all my paperwork as good as ruined : -(

After 9 hours we made it Hanoi. It was dark and the traffic was unbelievable. We were arriving on the final day of the 1000yr festival celebrations. 1000yrs of what? I am not entirely sure, but it meant the normally hectic streets of the city were clogged. The bus gave up before reaching the station and dropped us in a random spot on the main road. We managed to figure out rough directions to the lake from a taxi driver, but reckoned we could walk it. The girls had a lonely planet, so I relied on their map to guide us. The streets were full of motorbikes, people, balloons, bright lights, music..... It was tricky to navigate with out backpacks, but once we had crossed the major roads we were ok.

I said goodbye to Emma and Sarah at their hostel and made my way to my own place, not far away. I arrived just in time for happy hour with free beer in the bar! I met a middle aged Australian bloke and joined him for dinner in a restaurant around the corner. The food was excellent, the price just as good, and they had the celebrations on the TV, so we sat back and enjoyed.

Bed.