Hello everyone!

So when we last spoke we were in Vang Vieng in Laos and we were heading to Vientiane, which is the capital of Laos. Vientiane really wasn't anything special to be honest. I don't think this will offend anyone given that I'm fairly confident no Laotians are reading this. It was a bit like Bangcrap in terms of pollution and delightful fishy smells but with nothing really to do - no kidding! Given that we're both kinda templed out that veteos that so we had to sit by the river, drink and read our books. Oh it's a hard life you're probably all thinking...well if it softens the blow a smidge, the water looked like a dirty mud bath and it smelt like Minworth Sewage Works. Hygiene does not appear to be a number one Laotian priority. The journey to Vientiane did include our final Laotian bus ride, which was in between the luxurious limo of the bus to Vang Vieng and the journey from hell; 35C heat, no air con, more mudslides, fat smelly man on the seat in front, toilet stop=return to squatting - you get the picture!

Fortunately we have managed to escape unscaved and arrived safe and sound in Hanoi on Saturday. The flight we took was rather questionable however - lots of vibrating and an inflight meal (why it was necessary on an hour's flight I have no idea!) of our trusty Laotian delicacy of egg yolk cakes, dried banana and something that I think was meant to resemble a sandwich but failed!

Hanoi is lots of fun though. People in Vietnam actually do wear those pointy hats - it's great! It's very manic however with all the moped dodging. The place is full of them and they just drive at you and your job is to try not to get hit; so far so good! I'm not quite sure as to the purpose of traffic lights and zebra crossings here either as the mopeds and cars just drive through them. It's really noisy too with constant honking! They also have these weird looking pram things that you get in the front and someone cycles behind so you move..albeit at a rather geriatric pace! We went to the Ho Loa prison yesterday which was as dry as it sounds! I thought because John McCain had spent some time there when he was captured during the war it might have been interesting..nope! It also took us an hour to find it as we got lost and incidentally passed the road twice that it was on, doh! No prizes there for our map reading skills. In the evening we went to the infamous Water Puppet show. It was hilarious! Words really cannot describe so it's lucky we have video evidence. The best comment of the evening had to be when Danielle said as the people who work the puppets came out from under their canvas thing to be congratulated; "ooh it took me a minute there to realise they were people not puppets!" I also bought two books I'd been after in England for the bargainous price of 2.50 each. They were sealed. On closer inspection the reason is clear; they are photocopies of the original books with the blurb on the back with way too many gramatical errors, it's comedy!

Today has been a pretty chilled day. We went to Ho Chi Minh's digs only to find that they were closed! The book of lies failed to inform us that on Mondays and Fridays museum complex close! We did sit out in the sun by this pretty lake that they have in the centre of the Old Quarter of the city and worked on our tans, so all was not lost. We're off to Halong Bay tomorrow on a boat trip where we spend the night on the boat. Should be fun.

Will keep you all updated on the fun and frolics Asian stylee. Lots of love xxxxxxxxxxxx