Today has been, so far, a long and stressful one- there's no particular reason why, I just feel frustrated, unorganised but equally unmotived. A late start today meant a late and crappy lunch in KFC. Lethargic and groggy I've been pointlessly trudging around a hot Hanoi trying to find a new bottle of mosquito repellant and a bank to swap my Dong for Dollars ready for Laos. No luck with that so I'll have to keep an eye open for those things on the boarder or in Laos itself- I'm scared about the Malaria risks in the places we're passing through in Laos- I must get some spray with 100% deet! I've also been in the local park with that big red bridge- quite an anticlimax really- maybe I'm just in one of those moods.

Pippa wants to look for a bag so me her and Jason are off around the shops and side streets.

- Some new people are expected to join onto our tour tonight for when we start our Laos section of the tour tomorrow- It's a plane journey in. I heard the new people will be two girls and three boys. Charlie and Claus are sadly leaving us at this point also. Just as we all become close!

Kim has plans take us for street food and to a coffee shop later where we can sample some famous beans extracted from weasal excrament - a delicacy apparently- WTF! A pooey day topped off with some pooey coffee- get me a large whisky on the rocks instead please. It's much needed!