Hi all,

Well the two travelbugs arrived safely in Vietnam (Via Bangkok). Have'nt even been gone a week yet and have done so much already - so heres a brief taste...

We arrived in hectic Bangkok on Friday and loved the surge of heat that hit us at the airport. On our first night we went local for dinner, how proud we were when we walked right passed Mc Donalds and straight to the local street vendors for some fried chicken on rice for 50 cent each!!!

The next morning, still feeling the 'doing-as-the-locals-do' vibe we hopped on a bus to The Grand Palace! We had to cover up the knees and shoulders so hence the black cardigans in the 35degree heat. There we were dazzled by gold encrusted temples and monuments. Im sure Kathleen will be happy to know that we got our heads blessed on entering the temple of the Emerald Buddha!

we took a ferry across the canal to Wat Arun (yet another temple). We climbed it and then I turned my head and pretended not to know Cat as she decended the Wat ON HER ASS!! (afraid of heights)

Thai-Boxing..lets just say its not for the faint-hearted. Good fun though!!

Catriona had her first encounter with creepy-crawlies, as she sipped her Jack Daniels a friendly cockroach gave her a wink from the bottom of her glass !

GOOD MORNING VIETNAM!!! - sorry had to say it

From bustling Bangkok we made our way to Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. Did you know that the population of Hanoi is 4.5million and there are 3million motorbikes in the city alone! Crazy but definately not surprising.

we saw the famous water puppet show..well most of it coz both of us had a little snooze .... refreshed the following morning we made our way to Halong Bay, A stunning Bay made up of about 3000 limestone islands (Google it). The oh-so-fashionable ecco shoes came in soo handy as we sauntered through the caves and admired the limestone.

Go Trish! armed with her life jacket we took to the water and kayaked our way around the floating village..which even has a police station and a school! Great teamwork ensured we didnt crash into a house/ shop/school or other ....

Leaving Hanoi tomorrow and heading south towards Ho Chi Minh City.

Thats it for now,

Slan from the travelbugs ...and our friendly mascot Dora!!

Keep up the contact

Trish and Cat