Hello everyone, my first post from Asia is underway and I'm feeling an uncomfortable mixture of tiredness, excitment and surreality.

After waking up at around 9:00 (GMT) on the Saturday morning, I made my way to Terminal one at Manchester Airport with trusty family members: Mother and Uncle Mike in tow. Emotive goodbyes done and an expensive drink stop in Starbucks decided upon I then went on my way to start a scheduled 27hour journey to Ho Chi Minh City Airport - (Including my two connecting flights in Istanbul and Bangkok.)

When I finally reach the other side I get myself through the usual controls and reunite myself with my lighter than expected backpag. I'm in a blind panic and race against time as my thrid and final flight from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh was unexplainably delayed by over three hours- bringing my travel time to over 30hours in total. I look at my phone... I have very little battery life, no signal and with only my travel card to hand (and a set budget plan), I'm stuck with thinking that my travel partner and friend Pippa, who I was meant to meet at 19:45pm, has left and I have to now make my way to the start hotel alone: It's almost midnight, Sunday! To my surprise, she's still waiting in the agreed meeting point- asleep on a bench. What a babe!

We flag ourselves a taxi (negotiated rates of course- just like we were told) and we head through the dark and settled city to our start hotel: Huang Phu Gia. Everything seems fairly quiet but it's late. I can't help but notice that Pip is quite clued up on the sourroundings Ie; money and currancy rates. Maybe I'm jet-lagged or it's the three hours extra she's had on me: I hope I get to grips with how everything works soon enough!

It's a strange humidity here, even at this hour but it's pleasant nonetheless. Just in our hotel room now and the incredibly friendly hotel porters have carried our bags up for us. The Room's a decent size, spacious and clean: all I can ask for really! Me and Pippa both have double beds which have matching hotel branded bed cushions decorated ontop- It looks so inviting and cute! I've taken a picture of them so I can remember the hotel name.

It's 00:12 Monday morning at present and other than a quick room inspection and freshen up, we don't really know what to do with ourselves. Our tour guide Kim has left a welcome note for us explaining that he and the group have gone out for dinner/drinks as he assumes we've been delayed (whoops!). We're thinking of doing something similar as it'd be a shame to waste what little time we have in Ho Chi Minh. The Ben Thanh Market, which I have read about breifly at home, Kim has mentioned in his recommendation list so we might try and find that and go for a much needed cocktail too.

We just need to get a map from the reception and then we're off!