so we haven't updated this for a few days but we'v pretty non stop recently...

after ho chi minh we went by overnight bus to mui ne (nearly missed the bus ironically because i was on the internet updating this blog!). got to mui ne which is quite touristy but has some very beautiful places. got there at 1.30am and slept for 2 hours before waking up to get on the back of two random guys' motorbikes and cruised in the dark to the white sand dunes about half an hour away to watch the sunrise. was absolutely incredible (see pics) and we did some sand dune boarding whilst we were there and witnessed (and i like to think we were slightly involved with but probably not) an amazing vietnames wedding photo shoot on the tops of the sand dunes. we then went to the red sand dunes which we pretty cool then went back to our hotel. we moved hotel, bought a vietnamese sim card and moved all our stuff to a cheaper hotel and it was still only 8am! we didn't want to go on anymore trips as they were quite expensive so rented motorbikes out (sorry mum) for the day for around 3pounds. we had one of the best times imaginable cruising around the amazing scenery on the bikes and went through all the little villages and through the mountains. i was a little shady at first but had no injuries from the experience.

when we got back we decided to have a sleep on the sunloungers by the sea at the hotel since we had only slept around 5 hours in the past 2 days! we woke to realise we were about to be in the middle of a massive thunderstorm and everyone had abandoned the previously busy poolside! we were quite a mess through sleep deprivation and we had some really quite impressive bags under our eyes! later that night we decided to pack up and leave to nha trang where we are currently residing...

nha trang is a wicked wicked place. although it is quite touristy it is absolutely perfect for the likes of ollie and i (3 pint jug of san miguel is about 60p!). the two receptionists at our hotel are absolutely hilarious and have been spending quite a lot of time with them seeing the nightlife and beaches of nha trang. but before you think it was all boozing, we did go to the mud and mineral baths and had the best massage yet on our travels (we have become quite the conosseurs now and have become quite fussy!). we have decided we are starting to lose our masculinity with all the pampering we have taken a love to but we love it!

after deciding we have probably been drinking more beer than water for the last few days we realised we needed to be more cultural (very mature i know) and went on a whistle stop tour of the city and rented bikes out again (cheapest and easiest way around and surprisingly safe). went to the towers, pagoda (can remember exact names as have no book on me) and to an incredible photography gallery of a guy who is world renowned and takes his photos all in black and white and uses only natural processing and developing techniques, capturing 'the essence of vietnamese life'. would highly recommend to any traveller who should venture to the area. this photographer is a local despite his fame within the photography world and spoke to us for some time and also recommended the most fantastic local eatery in the area where barbeque all your own food and make homemade spring rolls (best place we have eaten yet).

sorry to dissapoint but jinesh (my flatmate) and his friend who are travelling up the coast on motorbikes which they bought for 100pounds arrived in nha trang yesterday and naturally we had to have a few cold bevys with them. they poisoned our little minds and forced us to go on a boat trip which turned out to be an all day booze cruise around all the islands of nha trang. scenery was beautiful but it was obvious from the start that it was a boat of 20year old travells with one thing in common...love of alcohol! the trip was incredible as the very charasmatic leader of the cruise was also a member of a brilliant 4-piece band and they played a set getting all the punters to sing and dance. loved it.

i have realised i have been rambling somewhat so will draw this to a close. we did also go scubadiving a couple of days ago which was really cool and only $35 for 2 1 hour dives and massive buffet lunch if you had a padi license and still just $50 if not. we are spending our last day on the beach with jin and his friend and the two receptionists then off to hoi an tonight.

after speaking to a very well-travelled liverpudlian a couple of nights ago, we have now changed our itinery to include laos, supposedly the most beautiful and breathtaking scenery in this area of the world. for those of you who are interested, we are now going to hoi an, on to hue, getting 24hour bus (not sleeper!) to vangvieng (capital of laos), staying in laos for around 10 days and working our way up north to the border which is vewry close to hanoi, on to ha long bay for a couple of days then going on a 3 day trip in sapa with trek and homestay included (only $30 all inclusive), back to hanoi, flight to bangkok then home to (hopefully) sunny england.

will keep you all posted with any new eventualities