Somehow last night I lost my mobile phone and am annoyed at myself. I have so many photos that I had taken on it. All the times I never took my camera out and just used my phone for those funny moments. Thankful I have been keeping this diary. It was supposed to be a blog, but other than a few private moments that have been removed it's turned into a diary. For the first time on this trip I have a sense of loneliness. I split from Monica before I came trave...

I get up and have the hostel breakfast of pancakes. I grab a map and leave the hostel. The difference in temperature is remarkable. Sapa, there is never a bead of sweat that leaves your forehead in most situations. Here, I'm back to heat and humidity. I start my exploration of the city, easily getting lost with the terrible hostel map. As I turn from the narrrow streets, the volume of cars is noticeable. Dodging a Hmong sister selling beads was about my li...

We are all a little hungover today. I sit with Sam, Tim and a few of the other hostel members. Speak with Ramon and an older European guy with long hair who's name I don't know. The long haired fellow exports goods from the area and knows much about the tribes and the region in general. With a hangover I could sit and listen to the 2 of them talk all day. Vietnam is going to change drastically. As of this month anyone can now buy a business in Vietnam. Pro...

I say cheerio to Nick and the biker girls - Louise & Sioban. They make a good team and their mutual enthusiasm keeps them all going through the harder parts I imagine. I go with Sam to an old book shop where they have cheekily printed off ebooks. The family who run the shop are eating their lunch on the floor but still happy to see a few customers. We go to the Hill Station restaurant to upload videos and chat about life. Always good company. A ...

Get up for the breakfast. Always quite good, plenty of coffee, pancakes, noodles, omelettes. Nice selection including fruit.After breakfast I speak with a 58 year old German man called Amon who has travelled extensively. He went to the full moon party on Ko Pha Ngan 35 years ago where there were just 30 people, a guitar and bongos. When I went 17 years ago there were a few hundred and a couple of bars. Now 40000 decend to the party. I finish exploring the t...