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Yippppeeeeee.......I've finally been able to access the site to finally write on my blog!! I entered Vietnam on the 16th June after a very interesting, horrible toilet stops, nealry died as the driver looked high on speed and uncomfortable 10 hour bus journay to the border town and then a nights stay there where we got looked and poked at, an amazing walk amoungst fruit sellers across a bridge from China to Vietnam and then another hefty, fear for your life bus journey to Sapa in north west Vietnam for some trekking and chilling.
I'm going to write this in short hand as iv lost the will to live and feel very emotional after finding out that I am now an aunty!!!!!
In Sapa we did a 2 day trek in pouring rain, alot of mud sliding, laughing, falling on bottoms and having our spirits lifted by our amazing guides. Finished day1 and started day 2 by swimming in an amazing natural pool with water falls. Stayed in a very local home stay that had flying cockroaches that unerved me so much that i had 4 rice wines to take the edge off!! Sapa was beautiful...kind local minority people a shopping haven and our first experience of fresh FRENCH bread...one good thing the frogs left behind :)
After more travelling arrived in Hanoi...a manic city!! Had some beauty treatments, lots of cheap beer from the street sellers, said goodbye to one group and hello to a new and did lots of sight seeing and motor bike hitch hiking!!! One night went to a hip hop 'cuban' night where a large bacardi was under a pound!!! Very sad to say goodbye to the remaining members of group, my new group are alot more mature but all very nice and im the only European as they're all from oz or nz. My pack had ripped in places so had it mended...the streets of Hanoi are very orderes...one for tailors, one selling flowers, one sun glasses, on only tin....you name it and they have a street dedicated to selling it!!! Went to Ho Chi Minh's museum and day by day am learning more and more about him and the American War...very powerful stuff and upsetting to see the people, some 4th generational who are still affected physically from this. Also saw the water puppet performance, nodded off a few times due to the heat in the theatre and that most of it was in vietnamese oopss!
Halong bay was an experience and a half...stayed on a five star type boat with warm and colded flannels coming out of your ears and food to die for. Swimming here was amazing and i was back and forth jumping form the top deck. I had that morning been ill from taking my malaria meds without eating....a mistake i'll NEVER do again...i was soooo ill!!
Went on over night train to Hue that was the capital city of Vietnam at one time. Again more motor bike riding...one day took a days motor cycle tour witht the group...alot of war sight seeing, pagodas, boat crusinng and eating (and napping) at a buddist monastry. Also here met up with Brit girls and Shane...randomly saw them at a temple so had food with them one vening. Also in Hue went by cyclo to the Citadel....VERY hot day so couldn't really concentrate on the history stuff.
Travelled to Hoi An which is the tailoring capital of the country...i had a dodgy skirt made on a wim and while running a hih temperature (more on that later) abd ended up not going back to collect it ooppps but i had paid a deposit so thats ok!! Allt he group went clothes crazy and instead i hit the beach...got very sun burnt one day form frollicking around tooo long in the sea and also burnt the soles of my feet ouch....to make matters worse the cold i had tried shifting in Hue turned into a fever and upper tract infection.....i know this because i had to call out a dr who prescribed me lots of medication and charged me a bargain price of 50 dollars for the privledge!!! One day alone when i was sweating it out i drank 8 litres of water!!! Hoi An was a very lazy place and what i did see alot of apart from the tailors, western tourists and lantern shops were very lively locals, our lovely hotel with pool and tasted some of the nicest food so far...sea food at a tenth of the price back home!!!!
Had a day trains journey to our current location Nha Trang...the sea party resort!!! Went on a boat cruise yesterday around the islands, went to a fishing village, stinky fly infested beach and had a row in a nut shell type of woven boat Lots of westerners and asian tourists...miles of golden sand and the best sailing club...come night club...come posh nosh place...come gallery..come beach resort ever. Had a huge party night there last night that ended in me and Vanessa (the 2nd youngest in my group at 31, aussie) taking a motor bike ride on desserted roads at 3 am...wind through our hair...going at speed...looking at all the amazing lights and having the time of our lives!!!!
Saigon will be the final destination for most of the group and me and Sue (55,nz) will go on to meet our new group to travel through cambodia and to bangkok. We have an over night train tonight and a busy day sight seeing tomo. Im really looking forward to tying up all I've learnt about the war in Saigon by visting the tunnels and museums.
Right thats enough for now....heading for a swim before we leave aint life soooo hard!!!!!!!!! Love to you all abd especially big hugs to my lil sis and niece xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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