I have found myself speachless and overwhelmed for the last day... although it feels more like a week. Time is going amazlingly slow. Halong Bay is the most enchanting and majestic place I have ever been too. Hanoi is the bussiest, noisy yet enderring city with never a silent moment.

Sunday 10th July

To begin my hetic and wet day in Hanoi I ventured from my little hotel towards the Dong Xuan Market, the original structure had been burnt down so it was quite unimpressive standing as a 3 story cement building. Nevertheless the live fish and shrimp jumping around with locals de-scaling other dead fish was was drawn in. After securing myself a brand new sparkly yellow alarm clock I heded back to the hotel, collected my bad and moved on to my next... luxurous... hotel.

The luxourous nature of this hotel was down to no personal choice but that of Intrepid. As many of you know I opted to take an Intrepid tour through Vietnam and Cambodia so I could truely sit back and soak up the country... without the faff of border bribes and such likes. So far so good! The airconditioning appears to be working properly (my last place was a little swetty to say the least!) and someone opened the door for me - so hey, I'm happy!

Dumped my bags and hedded down to Hoam Kiem Lake, I am sure many of you would recognise this lake from the guide book photographs, an idilic setting with a beautiful red bridge leading to an island. Having walked around the lake I sampled my first cup of authentic Vietnamese coffee. I realised halfway through the bitter cup of rocket fuel that stiring mixed in the sweet sweet syrupie condensed milk... something I am becoming fond of ... however will never truely replace the english dairy cows!

St Joseph's Cathedral is of a gothic nature, although not open it had a very impressive exterior and popped up from nowhere in between the small windy streets filled with little shops and street sellers. I meanderd back through the narrow yet hetic streets for a bite to eat before heding back to the hotel for a rest. The heat is simply exhausting, Hoian is much wetter and humid than Bangkok... I didn't think it was possible!

Donna is my new roomie for the next 17 Days - she lives in Melbourne and seems extremely nice, looking forward to getting to know here. Meeting the group was interesting, quite a mix of people but I have a good feeling about it all!

Monday 11th July

Finally a bright and early morning! Off to a restuarnt this morning which was set up by an Australian, the restuant is a training ground for street children learning how to become hostesses. This initiative has successfully trained up children who previously were deemed not to have a future. Had a great buffet breakfast including mini-pancakes, cereal, eggs, omlets, cakes, bread, fresh fruit, bacon, fried tomatoes and much much more! We were going to need it with the 4 hour coach journey ahead of us....

The others tell me that the journey was bumpy and a little tretchous at times... however I can't say that I noticed apart from the odd head drop I was sound asleep! Of course!

Halong Bay was swarmed by locust like tourists, flocking around the shops, ticket office madly trying to board boats! I casually hopped abord our intrepid boat and we pulled away from the shore.

My breath was swept away within moments - the majestic rocks began to appear and distingush themselves from one another. The greenery encpasulating the tips of the rocks became more defined as our boat efforsitlely glided inbetween the formations.

We had to sit down for lunch, but I didn't stay in my seat long before I was jumping up to snap the once in a life time moments and scenery before my eyes. The 2 chickens appeared and Dad - of course I though of you! I was literally blown away. Myself and a few others moved up to the top of the boat and took in the scenary whilst reclining on sun loungers in 40 dg c heat - beautiful!

The boat pulled up at a cave.... a very famous cave with a certain penis rock! Our guide, Bon, told us it was a finger... but I know he just didn't want to have 'that chat' with the group. The cave was facinating, and so big! and My my ... did the SLR pay off! Only my photos were coming out, capturing the mist and atmosphere like a dream!

The boat moored in an area with little current which is where we would anchor for the night.... We jumped into the bath like water and swam for over an hour - still gasping at my surroundings.

The day was seamlessly perfect, I lay on the roof looking up at the moon and the forboding islands all around me so greatful and astounded to be there.

Tuesday 12th July

I lept up and opedned the curtains.. .I wanted to check it hadn't all been a dream! On went the swimming costume and into the water I plopped! After rinsing the salt of my pasty skin I induldged in a glorious breakfast and coffee.

4 Hours later.... filled with paparazie mode snaps of motorbikes with their over-the top loads.... we arrived in Hanoi. Not only did I see pigs, chickens, ducks, bags of rice, childrens 3 wheeled bikes... I saw a cow draped over the back of a bike - INCREDIBLE!!

Lunch in Hanoi was at a proper street food cafe where we had pork meetballs in a noodlie-soup... devine! Myself and a few other members of my group ventured off to the Water Puppet Theatre which I loved! Really entertaining and some incredible music was played on instruments I had never seen before. A tiny bit of shopping before back to the hotel... got myself and my 2 fellow travelers (Lucy and Sam thats you!) soon to join me, silk sleeping bag liners! So we won't have to fear about horrid bedding! haha

Getting the night train at 10pm to Hue tonight, so back at the hotel relaxing before my next adventure.

Thanks for all your messages guys... I'm having such a ball and can't believe I have only been gone 6 days! Love xxx