Hello everybody, I have a spare hour or so on one of my free days so thought I would keep you all updated of my goings on.

So when I last left you I had just arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam. This was quite a change of pace from Loas and Hanoi is very loud, very hectic and ever so slightly mental.

We arrived in the city around 4pm and checked into the hotel, after a shower we all headed into the old quarter for a traditional Vietnamese meal. I have to say I wasn't all that fussed on my meatball, cold soup and noodles combo!! But I tried it at least. After our meal we all had a walk through the old quarter back to the hotel. Myself, Dan, Alan, Nicci and Laura weren't tired so decided to try and find a place to have a few drinks with little success!! We eventually stopped at a place were all the locals were sat round drinking what we though were cocktails and turned out to be fruit shakes whilst we were drinking beer!! So we only had a few and then headed back to the hotel.

Today was a full day and also a bit of a sad one, we were to loose Nicci and Matt the next day before taking on 6 newbies. The day started off with a trip to the Hoi Chinh Min museleum. This is a tough one to explain, you had to walk in pairs, no sunglasses, no talking and you had to have you hand by your sides and were not allowed to slow down or stop and stare at the body. Now I can't be 100% sure but I am pretty confident it was a Madam Tuesards number and not his real body!! After that we visited his former residence, which was mad busy. The bug that has being sweeping the group claimed Laura this morning and Angie whilst were were out on our tour.

Our tour guide Bom left us after this point and we all split into groups visiting the various different places we wanted to. I went with the group that went to the war museum and kinda wish we had taken the guided tour because I had no idea what we were looking at!! But there were some interesting facts like did you know that the US dropped 5832000 tonnes of bombs on Vietnam?? That is a hell of alot and to this day children are still being born with defects because of their agent orange campaign. Don't say you don't learn anything from my blogs!!

Dan had been going on about getting one of the motorbike taxi's round the city so as soon as someone offered the chance we agreed to meet everyone at the lake and jumped on the back of one. I have to admit apart from getting my knee smashed by a passing bike I thorughly enjoyed it and it really is the only way to get round Hanoi. We stopped at a cafe for an hour waiting for everyone and bumped into a few of the other gang, but when no one else turned up we had lunch and headed back on another motorbike taxi.

Tonight we saw the water puppet show which I can't figure out whether I liked it or not!! But after the show we jumped some motorbike taxi's to the restaurant for the night and got a good video on them which I will try to upload at some point. As mentioned tonight is the last night with Nicci and Matt and after meeting our latest members to join the trip, who are John (Yank), Annabelle (Brit from Oxford), Celine (sorry don't know how you spell it the turkish way!!), Sayid (Bethnal Green), TJ & Jason (kiwi couple), we had a gorgeous meal at Koto which is the Vietnam equivelant of 15 by Jamie Oliver we headed out to get hammered and say farwell to our comrades.

After a bit of a nightmare with cabs again, one driver tried to steal money out of Annabelle's purse!! We hit a pub called 'Hair Of The Dog' and started in on the shots. After Nicci pestering the owners for as many free shots as we could blag I think it would be fair to say we were all wrecked and what do you do when wrecked? Karoke!! We tried to go to the one opposite the pub, but after going some dodgy way to get to the room and the guy changing the price we decided to go to one by the hotel. Now sadly this one was even more expensive, but we were there and just decided to get on with it. We had our own private room, so after putting some song slections together the fun began. Now anyone who know's me will know I can't sing, but being slightly intoxicated I decided to get up and do a few numbers to thrill the group!! After a little intro to get the crowd going I did 'Hotel California' as a tribute to the lads, thankfully the song stopped half way through!! Then a bit later I did a duet with Dan of 'Hey Jude' it was very heartfelt, then put everything I had into 'Totel Eclipse Of The Heart', which I believe went down a storm and there is a video which I hope never surfaces. We all finsihed off with 'Don't Stop Me Now', before thankfully our time was up and we stumbled off into the night!!

After saying goodbye to Matt and Nicci (miss you guys) we jumped on the coach to Halong Bay for a night in Halong Bay. We met our new tour guide Duc who had the strangest accent but was very informative. We got to Halong Bay and jumped on our lovely boat which was going to be home for the next 24 hours and must say she was a fine vessel indeed. The cabin was surprisingly comfy. After a cruise round the bay we got fed a seafood meal and it was one the nicest I have ever had and scoffed the lot. After the lunch we went to one of the caves inside one of the islands, was huge and looked like something off a film set, but was mad busy. Then some of us decided to do some kayaking around the bay, I took Lesley out with me and we made a decent enough team!! It was alot of fun and we went trhough a cave to the open water and saw all the massive tankers going by, before we went through another cave into a stunning lagoon, really wish I'd taken me camera.

As soon as we got back we were all jumping off the boat, I was the first one off in the absence of Matt!! But somehow managed to injure my shoulder and is still quite sore, hoping it will heal up before I get to Koh Tao for my diving because I can't swim properly at the moment.

After a shower and catching sunset we had another seafood meal, some local vodka (strange taste) which Duc called 'Man drink make women happy', I wish!! We attempted to do some squid fishing. We hooked a few but never actually got them onto the boat!! Had a few drinks and retired for the night.

Next day was an early start and was disappointed that it was only me, Dan and Alan that turned up in our robes for brekky!! We were up early to go to the top of the observation point and we were the first one's there which was alot better than getting stuck with all the crowds like in the cave the previous day. Plus we all ended shattered and drenched in sweat!! After brunch and a cruise around the bay we headed back to shore and then Hanoi to get the overnight train to Hue.

The night train was interesting, I was in a room with Dan, Alan and John and we decided to get a bottle of vodka in and did a good job off polishing it off within a few hours!! Was pretty wasted and at one point I think we had 9 people in our cabin!!

And I woke up to see we had arrived in Hue. A much quieter town than Hanoi and seemed nice, saw alot of travellers. The hotel is smart and the rooms almost like suites and we have a pool!! So after a shower we did a motorbike tour of Hue, which took in the rice paddy fields, a wooden bridge which was dead important but I forgot to write down why!! We then shot down all the mad alleyways to vist a famous women who makes those Vietnamese hats with only one arm, was very impressive. We then visited Hamburger Hill and the Tiger and Elephant colaseum were tigers and elephants used to fight!! Oh and I forgot to mention our guide looks like Short Round from the Indiana Jones films!!

We were all pretty shattered in the afternoon and not up for out tour of the kings Musileum and some Pogoda thing. Tonight was the first time we never ate were Bom suggested so we all went to the Mexican over the road and it was quite nice.After that I skyped home and spoke to a few mates. Then myself and Dan had a few games of pool and watched the Liverpool vs Aston Villa game in an attempt to introduce Alan to football!! He wasn't impressed and got off after the first half. I ended up a bit drunk, sorry Dan!!

And now we get to the good stuff, it was my birthday today. After waking up and going for breakfast I opened some cards a few people had given me to open whilst I was away and then we all jumped on the coach to see the Hue citadel which was quite impressive. On the coach I was presented with my birthday card from the group that was made my Laura, Jemma and Annabelle and have to give them a massive shout out it was the best card ever. After this we jumped on the coach to Hoi An only to find out we had been upgraded to a 4 star resort there for our 3 day stay and the place is amazing. It's going to be tough to go back to hostels after this!!

On the night time we all got changed and headed into Hoi An which is a lovely little heritage town, we all really like it. We all had the meal together and since it was my birthday everyone got buckets to drink. After a lovely meal of snapper I was presented with a huge birthday cake and a rendition of happy birthday, was well chuffed, until Dan shoved a piece in my face!! Afterwards I was treated to Laura's version of 'Holiday' by Dizzee Rascal and she got quite an audience even from the locals, it was brilliant as well. We all hit the 'Before And After' bar and got quite drunk and then headed home when the town shuts at 11:30pm!!

So got up the next day not feeling to bad considering. We have all free time in Hoi An so we decided to rent some scooters and hit Coi Bau beach down the road. Myself, Dan and Alan had a little practice whilst everyone was at the tailors and it was all goign so well except I ran out of fuel on the way to the petrol station!! Once that was sorted we hit the open road with Anabelle and Laura on the back. After a nice little drive to the beach we stopped at a secluded part, had some lunch and rented some sun loungers. Had a dip int eh sea which was a bit wavey and cool, decided to give skinny dipping a go, ensuring I stayed in quite deep water!! After a bit of a relax we decided to head back and Laura was going to drive Dan back even though she had never ridden a bike before!! After a quick lesson Dan jumped on the back and then jumped off when she was heading for a post on the beach road!! After reassuring Dan he would be fine he got back on and I have never laughed so much after seeing him flapping whenever she would speed up or try to race us!! She got quite good in the end though.

Everyone seemed pretty tired afterwards, so after a meal at a place called 'Morning Glory' that serves authentic street food but in a nice setting (I know we should have just got street food, would have been cheaper!!) We all headed home.

Did a bit of shopping today and Nicci is meeting up with us again for the night before we head to Saigon tomorrow.

Just looked back at this, it's a long one!! Sorry everyone. But hope you all enjoy it. I am off to chill in the pool bar and have a few tger beers!!

Bye for now,

Mup