Hanoi - 24th - 25th and again 28th - 30th may!!

Hello again!!  Just trying to update you all after a pretty hectic week, we are exhausted at the mo and can't wait to chill in Laos! 

anyway as you can see we were in Hanoi for 2 days before a little break this was because we travelled to Halong Bay for 2 nights, 3 days but i will put the time there in a seperate entry. 

We caught the 12 hour train to Hanoi at 8am 24 May and arrived pretty tired even though we did pay for a sleeper train.  We caught motos to a hotel that was recommended but it was fully booked so decided to head to the hotel the aussies were in, but that was fully booked.  They then recommended theri sister hotel round the corner so off we trekked.  It was awful to say the least but there was not much we could do at 10pm at night. 

As we had had very little to eat all day we were starving so after a shower headed out (10.30pm) to be told by the reception we had to be in at 12pm!!  We were fuming and also couldn't find the aussies or anywhere to eat.  We ended up paying above the odds in a french restaurant for french onion soup and brushetta!!  We couldn't risk anywhere else, especially as Simon was still only eating dry bread up until this point. 

So on the way back to the seedy hotel we dropped back into the hotel the aussies were in and asked them to reserve a room for us the following morning. 

The next day we moved to the aussies hotel and were really impressed as it was the same price as the other but had a/c, hot water. free internet and free breakfast, plus rooms were huge and clean!! 

After afew hours kip we booked our trip to Halong Bay and would be leaving the following morning, for 3 days, 2 nights. 

We eventually bumped into the aussies and spent the day with them, all having a quiet night in a restaurant over a few beers. 

PLEASE READ THE HALONG BAY ENTRY FOR 26TH - 28TH MAY. 

29th May - today.  We arrived back from the Halong Bay trip yesterday and have not done much since, just chilled really as still really tired.  There is a bit to do here but we are all templed and musuemed out to bother doing anything!!  Hanoi was heavily infulenced by the french so we have being spending along of time in little cafes and just relaxing and gearing ourselves up for a trip from hell to laos. 

We leave for Laos tomorrow evening at 6pm for a 24hr bus trip, and we have heard so many horror stories!  We have heard of the bus stopping randomly so that the driver can have a sleep for 3 hours in the blistering heat and turning the a/c off, of the bus being unable to get up hills so the passengers have to get off and help push it up the hill then getting back on the bus at the top of the hill and of having to wait around at the border for hours until it opens.  We have also been told they pack people in like sardines and of it even taking upto 40 hours!!  So you can imagine we are dreading it!!  

We are going to the water puppet show tonight! Not sure what its going to be like but its only cost about 70p. 

Anyway hope everyone is ok back home, miss you all loads.  I will upload the photos later today as trying to get it all upto date.  Make sure you read the halong bay entry as we really enjoyed it there. 

love shell and simon xxxx