It has happened. We all knew it would at some point, and on Wednesday, March 11 2009...it happened. It all started with the free breakfast at my hotel which, at the time, I thought was rather nice. It even kept me full past lunch time..and then dinner time came around and instead of familiar hunger pains...there was just pain. Dr. Eliastam informed me that I had a viral stomach infection, aka FOOD POISONING. Two days later, I feel much better! Although I just ate the breakfast at my hotel again (bad idea? I guess we'll see!).

That was about the most exciting bit of my week. It also took up a lot of my precious time. So, now it is Sunday, which means I check out of my hotel that has been home for the past week and check into a hotel down the street where I will meet my new tour group. I did some research on the Intrepid website and I think that I am going to joining a tour that has already been together for about a month or so. There is another tour that goes from Bangkok, through Cambodia, up Vietnam and then goes from Hanoi back into Thailand through Laos (which is what I am doing) so I think I join that one? I'm just guessing but I think I'm going to be right. I'm interested to meet my new group. Someone from my last tour started a new one going down Vietnam and she said the group is full of older couples..can't imagine that being the best thing. Anyway, I guess we will see.

So I added some new photos. They include my Sapa and Hanoi motorbike ride photos but also ones of the Ho Chi Mihn Mausoleum and the Temple of Literature. The mausoleum was interesting, it only took about 20 minutes, and 19 of those minutes are standing in line. Actually you're standing in line the whole time. You just walk in a line into the building and then walk past his body and walk out. You aren't allowed to stop or else the guards with big guns yell at you..you also aren't allowed to talk, wear sunglasses, step off the carpet, step out of line, or read the brochure while walking. Uncle Ho, as they like to call him, looked pretty freaky. It seemed as though he could just get out of his glass coffin and join the queue! The Temple of Literature was pretty but, to be honest, I don't really know what it is all about. We (I was with my friend from the tour) just stumbled upon it.

That's about it for today, gotta go pack up and check out by 12.