Hello!

So.... We flew to Hanoi from Danang, flight took an hour I think & we got a taxi to the hotel.
We saw some guy having photos with everyone at the airport so we hopped on the band wagon & it seems he is on TV in HCMC.. so there's a celeb spot for you!

Hotel in Hanoi was rubbish! Damp on the ceiling & a brick wall behind our window that wouldn't close... Nice!
Breakfast was 4 slices of bread & an egg but unlimited coffee so I was happy with that!

We first went to book our trip to Halong bay ( 75$ for 2 days, 1 night) then we went to buy our "Sinterklaas" presents.
Our Dutch friends Jerry & Eva told us about the Dutch tradition done on the 5th dec which is basically secret Santa but you have to write a poem/rhyme for the recipient. Also Sinterklaas aka Santa clause rides a horse, comes from Spain & has a helper called "Zwarte Piet" aka black Piet who is all black from the soot up the chimney.

We decided to join in the tradition so all went out shopping, in the same supermarket so we were like ninjas sneaking around the supermarket trying not to catch one another.

We all went on the trip to Halong Bay abs we stayed on a junk boat. There were so many it looked like a scene from Peter Pan. I loved it!

We went into a cool cave, went kayaking and tried fishing a bit.

Boat was cool to Sleep in but we must have been on the boring boat as all the other guests went to bed at 8:30 whilst Sam, Jerry, Eva & I all played UNO drinking beer at 2$ a drink (VERY expensive!)

Food was also the same meal for lunch, dinner & lunch again so I've had enough squid & shrimp for a life time!

Today we went to the pearl farm which was interesting after a 7:30am breakfast call.
I asked if my pearl ring was real but didn't get a definitive answer!

Bus back to Hanoi today where will will do the museums, water puppet theatre & war prison tomorrow before we decide to leave for Laos in a day or two.

Also found the worlds smallest banana!!

Xxxxxxx