im actually in Sapa ... arriving at 5 am on train to Lao Cai, jumping mini bus and continuing on to Sapa, trying to sleep through the steep journey as it was still dark and i couldnt see a thing! as we arrived in Sapa, we were shown our rooms and greeted my the locals trying to sell there wares. they look amazing, their outfits are sensational and most of them dont have much on their feet, which is a shock cause im freezing. arriving today (sat) there is a huge ...

well its boxing day at home .... but there isnt a tequilla in site!!! too much red wine yesterday me thinks!! first thing to be done today was organising :we had to organise for alicia's hotel to ring up and arrange train tickets to Sapa after Kristi and John were denied tickets yesterday at the train station on account of all the trains being full! but a helpful orphan at Christmas yesterday told us that they lie regularly to Westerners and that we should get...

Ok, so its Christmas ... wierd that im not at home, but exciting at the same time really ... woke a little late and headed to Alicia's hotel for breakfast ... mmm the lady there makes a killer omlette (i know not very vietnamese ... but hey .. its Christmas) then we needed to do some serious food shopping, as Alicia and her housemates are hosting an orphans Christmas with about 30 guests and there is no food in the house, all are suppose to bring a dish but who k...

i filled my day cruising around the streetts of Hanoi on two wheels, the peddle variety of bike. it was an interesting experience for me, having never really rode in busy traffic in Australia i was thrown into the deep end as i manouvered through mopeds, motorbikes, other cyclists, cars and pedestrians. My morning aim was to successfully read the map and find my way from Alicia's house to the Hoan Kiem Lake, i figured if i could get to the lake i could use it as ...

i have arrived safe and sound ... with i flying headache ... alicia picked me up ... screaming 'Book bok bookie' (like a chicken) as i walked though the gates. with the screaming and giggling came cuddles and the attention of everyone around us. once outside we were bombarded with taxi people wanting our buisness ... alicia sternly saying NO and walking away because we already had a driver ... one fellow in particular continued following us ... NO NO NO alicia s...