Hello everyone!

Well since the last blog we have done a lot of travelling, and some days not for a lot. We left Kailli on a bus to one of the minority villages (Maliao) and trekked for 5hours through some more rice terraces to another village called Xijiang which was absolutly freezing but the food was good so not too many complaints! Then we took some more buses to Pingliang and then a Bamboo boat down the river to Chong'an for 2 hours which was also freezing, after getting off the boat we all hoped for some warmth in the nights guest house but no such luck, this place was the worst place we have stayed yet, the windows weren't whole so it really was cold as the house was basically on the river and it was just mingin! But it was an experience and we survived!

This was a killer we went back to Guiyang which took 4hours on the scariest roads ever, then we took an overnight train to Kunming, got off the train in the morning and got on another bus for 10 hours to reach the border for Vietnam! We were all absolutly done.

But it was all worth while as the second we crossed the border the following morning we saw a huge change in the people. The Vietnamese are so friendly and smiley and helpful compared to the Chinese. We caught a few photos of them crossing the border with serious amounts of stuff, the photos explain a lot better!

Up to Sapa which was a great village, its so high it sits in the clouds most days. We were really lucky because on the first day we were there we experienced the clouds, and it was mad you couldnt see two feet infront and the next day was really clear so we could see how beautiful the village was!

Then another trek! This one was for 8 hours! Interesting!We made it and enjoyed the hot springs when we got there! The House we stayed at put on a show for us by the locals, which was great fun!

Back up the hill we crawled down the day earlier and we got a bus to an overnight train which took us to Hanoi, spent the day walking round how we didn't die on the roads i don't know, they are mad with the 1.25million mopeds on the roads!

We had a leaving meal with our group and the next day went off to find our new hotel and group! They are really nice, there are only 5 of us! We all went to see Ho Chi Minh which was not what we expected, we thought we would see his coffin but we actualy saw him! There were guards everywhere with guns! Then we went to see where he used to live etc. and visited one of the old prison museums and the temple of liturature and finally a water puppet show closley followed by bed, that was quite a busy day!

Off to Halong bay we went for a boat trip which we stayed on over night, it was great, we stopped off at a cave which was really cool, didnt get many photos though the battery packed in! Because our trip was so small we had a huge boat all to ourselves, the food was excellent probably the poshest we have had so far! Rod also bought my Xmas present when they came round with the display of salt water pearls!!!!!! I don't have a clue what to get him, im sure i will find something.

We just arrived in Hue this morning its a beautiful city we went to see the Citadel which was pretty, but it has many scars from all the wars the Vietnamese have been through!

Anyway thats us up todate, Rod is fighting with the computer next to me to get the photos uploaded its a total pest, the computers are sooooooo slow!

If we don't update before Christmas we hope you all have a lovely day and lots of Christmas photos would be appreciated! ENJOY

LOTS OF LOVE