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Krys & Toni's World Adventure
Well, we are on our final day in Vietnam now and fly to Laos tomorrow. Although we predicted in our last e-mail that it would be Krys's turn for a life threatening incident- turns out no, still Toni's turn, but we'll come to that in a bit!
Hoi An was a beautiful little old town in the middle of Vietnam. It was really strange as it had about 300 tailors. Would've got suits made but too expensive to ship them home. Toni got a skirt tailored for $6 (about 3.50 pounds) though- bargin. Tried some delicious local foods and were quite adventurous when we weren't quite sure what it was. Also cycled (first exercise in awhile) to the best beach we've been too.
Only stayed there a few days before doing the worst journey of our lives, a 20 hour bus journey up to Hanoi. Krys has just pointed out that it wasn't the worst journey of his life as he slept most the way through it- he doesn't need to tell me that- I was watching him and wishing it was me! Anyway, after recovering we went to a place on the coast called Ha Long Bay for a 3 day boat trip.
Ha Long bay is one of the most amazing places either of us has seen yet. hundreds of rocks jutting out of the water. We apologise for all the probably really boring photos of it we will put on this website as I'm sure it just looks like boring rocks, but Krys' dad is keeping the photos for when we get home so had to put them on! It turned out to be an action packed few days. First day we chilled out on the boat and explored some cool caves. Second day was brill and a disaster all in one. Day started well with a 5km trek through the jungle mountains. The photos are mainly of me as I was too knackered to hold the camera from climbing over all the rocks. I think Krys felt like he was a proper explorer! After lunch we went to an island which we kayaked around and found a deserted beach which was fab. After that the day went very wrong. Before I type the next bit- I'm fine now mum so dont worry.
Turns out the island we were on was called monkey island.... I know, should have turned and run at that point after previous monkey chasing experience. However, I decided to stay on the beach away from the wild monkeys near the trees and read my book. Then some American tourists turned up on a boat and decided to feed them. They went mental! I was stood back watching nervously (theres a picture of my worried face somewhere) when some monkeys started to run after Krys. He ran away and three of them then turned and started running after me. I have no idea why as I had no food and was no-where near the rest of the corwd- monkeys hate me. I didnt run as I ran last time and they are faster. Thought if I was calm they would leave me alone- how worng was I. Three charged at my feet and one climbed my leg and bit me, at which point I went hysterical. I hadnt had the rabies jab as too expensive and never really thought Id get bitten by a monkey! I couldnt get to a hospital and the only doctor was on another island and didnt speak any english. Krys was a star and tried to calm me down although we were both very scared. Our guide got us to the foreign doctor who gave me an injeciton without telling me what it was. I thought it must be for rabies but turns out it was tetanus which I've already had. Charged us plenty for it as well. I couldnt stop crying cos I knew rabies was fatal and there was no way to get help. The doctor didnt seem to get what I was worried about and our guide was having trouble translating as his english was only OK. Spent the whole evening in a state not knowing what to do. Totally horrible not being able to ask anything or know what treatment I was being given. The next morning our fantastic guide (called Hung) found us and said he'd been to another doctor without us to try and get us more info and the doctor was sure the monkeys on the island were safe and that they had been immunised- huge relief I can tell you! I'm now on two lots of antibiotics but hopefully am fine. Will never ever be anywhere near monkeys again in my whole life. Probably just about the most scared we've both been ever!
We spent today looking around museums in Hanoi. Both were only OK so wont bore you with the detail.
Hope you're all OK,
Toni and Krys x
p.s. Good luck Matt and Elisabeth- let us know hows it all goes!
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