Xin Chao...and that's about the extent of my Vietnamese vocabulary...basically, HELLO, everybody. Hope you're all taking care, sorry for the delay in updating but it's all VERY JAMPACKED here...although, I did really like Oli's facebook group about me never updating this, haha. Lack of computer time so will make sure I write back to everyone PROPERLY as soon as possible.

So, after a few days of culture shock (adjusting from Uganda to Vietnam) I'm now reallly enjoying it here.

I literally can't believe I've only been here for 2 weeks, it seems like SO long...we have done lots of things already and next week start doing the trecking, which I CAN'T WAIT for...should be amazing. At the moment we're staying in a hotle in a really stunning little part of the town Ninh Binh. If you walk about 5 mins away from the hotel you are completely surrounded by streams, rice paddies and small mountains...it's amazing, the sort of stuff I really hoped I would see but didn't get my hopes up just in case. Just amazing. Aslo, the novelty of seeing people wearing cone hats will NEVER wear off....SO cool, I've already bought myself and wore it very proudly whilst on a bike ride! Haha. I'm sure I looked ike an absolute fool!

We have done a few bike rides now and they're always SO fun, the first one we did was so much fun and we cycled through some amazing fields and we did 3 hour bike ride (in total) the other day to the biggest pagoda in South East Asia, which was really good fun and secretly quite competitve, ha. Other cheesy activities have included getting up at 4:30 the other day to watch the sunrise...which was really nice, even if it did mostly rise behind a big hill!

The co-ordinators have tried their best to settle us in to Vietnamese culture by giving us language lessons...which was certainly interesting. We have also had a cooking lesson and learned how o make srpring rolls, doing everything ourselves- from the EARLY market- to by the food (with A LOT of haggling thrown in), to the preparation of the food and finally to the making and EATING....GENUINELLY the best spring rolls we've had whilst we've been here...also, I thought Mum would be impressed after my many failed attempts to cook this year. OO. talking of food, we also tried dog yesterday...ummm...just. plain. odd- really chewy and tough but glad I've tried it and it was cool because we had it at one of the co-ordinators friends homes...so we had to sit on the floor, which was cool because apparrently we're one of the first groups to do it!

To counter-act all the culture we have also done several touristy things like the swimming pool and karaoke, with some very funny Vietnamese songs! Also, it is 2 peoples birthdays this week so yesterday we had a suprise party for them on the balcony which was BRILLIANT as the people who are on the trip are awesome.

For the past few days we have been at the National Park, where we have trecked inside caves and to a 700 year old and a 1000 year old tree (not really THAT special) nu8t still pretty cool.

This country really is amazing, I completely understand how Lindsey liked it so much. It's weird because it never truly hit me I was in Uganda but here I absolutely feel like I'm on my gap year. We have done SEVERAL Pagodas (Worshipping Buddha) and Temples (worshipping real people who lived-e.g Kings, generals etc)...The biggest one in S.E Asia was really interesting. HUGE golden Buddha staues EVERYWHERE. Last weekend I organised a trip to go see a Pagoda (admittedly a little shocked I organised something) which all 17 people came to...it was AMAZING we took a cow ride there and 500 steps later we were at the top of one of hills/montains with SUCH an incredible view and lots of amusing photos taken! We even saw a cathedral yesterday, which was interesting because it somehow managed to combine both Christianity and a real Asian feel.

And that's pretty much it...apart from a really cool boat ride, which Dad would have enjoyed, as it was just SO peaceful.

Today has been quite exciting because Harry has set off today, which means we will be in Oz soon, which I am stupidly excited about. I wish you all the best with your project, mate, and I'll see you soon.

Really hope everyones keeping well back home...Miss you all. TAKE CARE people :)