Following from Gary's departure to Ningbo University, Helen and I ventured North to the well-acclaimed city of Beijing. Apparently they have a big long wall there...??On arriving in this dusty, noisy city following a 12 hour train journey (on a very upright SEAT), we were greeted by a rank smelling dorm room. To put it nicely, it was consumed with a suffocating smell of thick, intense HANGOVER. It was (we think) generally down to one very stinky boy in the room. ...

"w**** of the Orient, Paris of the East".... Shanghai! From the natural beauty of Tiger leaping Gorge to the heaving urban metropolis of Shanghai, I've seen it all now! YSL, Dior, Chanel, bars, rastaurants, cakes shops, clubs, dirt and sweat, there is nothing this place doesnt have!! We even got our hair cut in Tony and Guy (for less that half the price!) We have indulged: Our minds, in the strange modern art gallery where, the chinese tourists insist upon taki...

While Gary nearly got arrested for political crimes crossing the border from Vietnam into China, Helen and I glided through trouble free. The rather threatening border control phased us for a mere moment... will explain in detail on return!! So China!!! a land of beautiful architecture, noodles, rice, tea, no English speakers and so so much more... We started in Kunming... for someone who is not so keen on shopping, the shopping was pretty impressive... Sara...

Since I last wrote we have been spoiling ourselves cruising round Halong Bay and testing our physical abilities on a trek in the mountains in Sapa. Halong bay is out of this world! (Photos to come i promise). We sailed through this spectacular collection of islands in a small wooden boat that holds 14 passengers. There were cabins with views like you can't imagine and then a deck on top, dedicated to sunbathing. We could swim in the sea, sunbathe and eat to...

I finally made it to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), what a city! its vibrant, noisy streets and 1000s of motorcycles all make a awesome hot-pot of craziness to enjoy and revel in... so on 1st night, with 2 hours sleep (the 2 hours were slept in business class of the BA flight... I sneaked in when no one was looking... only the best!!) I was off with a big group, including my friend Helen from Uni, who was also in HCMC for the night!!, for my first taster of vietnamese...