Merry Xmas everybody! I really hope you are all feeling very festive and looking forward to be very merry tomorrow! I hope you all have exciting plans for New Year too. I'm in Hanoi, about to hit the Xmas Eve party at Hanoi Backpackers Hostel in the Buffalo Bar then heading to Ha Long Bay for a night on a boat followed by a night on the Castaway Island...... Should be swimming, wake-boarding, kayaking or snorkeling tomorrow and Boxing Day! Then Vietnam is done........ Hong Kong followed by Sydney in time for New Year and meeting up with my little sister and Junior Jacobs. So, Vietnam eh? After the very chilled and beautiful Mui Ne, I've had to whizz up the coast only spending a few days in Nha Trang, only went there for the diving and the visibility was rubbish and the weather was shocking, it rained all the time apart from my last day - wished I'd spent longer in Mui Ne and missed out on Nha Trang. Although, I did meet a whole bunch of people there and spent a couple of nights drinking buckets on the beach again...... I lost my camera, (sorry John!), but another guy also lost his wallet and we have subsequently heard of a major pick pocket problem in Nha Trang so reckon it was stolen. Fortunately I had backed up all my photos so nothing too major. I've bought a cheap second hand one which seems to be doing the job, (probably somebodies 'lost' camera from a couple of nights earlier!). Had a whole heap of people to head to Hoi An with which was cool, and met yet another bunch of people from Brighton, (4 guys from Portslade). That makes it about 17 I've met so far from Brighton........... Hoi An was really nice - very chilled and nice colonial buildings, lovely people and fantastic food. The weather was still pretty bad but on our last day we did get some sunshine and we hit the beach which was cool. I rented a bike for the time I was there and was fun whizzing around the countryside past rice paddies. I managed to get myself fitted up for a new suit and some trousers and shirts, all for around $200 US - Gary, I've posted them home via seamail so should arrive in around 3 months. I addressed the package to you so no issues with collecting it, hope that's cool. Again, plenty of partying at Hoi An and the locals made a real effort with the festive spirit - huge trees, giant inflatable Santa's, glow in the dark reindeer, Santa hats etc. There was a bunch of kids running around in full Santa get up, little jackets, trousers and hats. They looked so cool! We even had Xmas songs blaring out of the restaurants...... Still finding it hard to get in the festive mood though! Maybe tonight will sort me out....... So, I've been flash-packing since I had little time so booked a couple of flights up the coast. Left Hoi An this morning for Hue via Marble Mountain and the Hai Van Pass - stunning! Had a very short time in Hue before my flight to Hanoi earlier. 'Me bird' has been enjoying herself, even getting some surfing action....... Tuaca and Snake Wine is being saved for Ha Long Bay. I now have several offers of places to stay in various places around the World and have been told about a new drink called a Caesar - they drink it in Canada and it's basically a Bloody Mary but made with Clam Juice.......! These guys were raving about it! Anyway, this is a short one since it's Xmas Eve and there is a party about to start. Looking forward to Ha Long Bay but also getting very excited about South America now - got some mates coming out to join me for some of Bolivia and Peru, and there is the possibility I may have a companion for Patagonia too which is really exciting....... So, for now, I will bid you all farewell. Have a very Happy Christmas and a fantastic New Year. Ha Long Bay will be my next update in a few days before I hit Hong Kong and Sydney. I hope you are all well and looking after yourselves. Keep in touch! Cheers.