Hello again (after quite a while) from Vietnam, Hanoi to be exact! we are already 1/2 way through this epic month of traveling, and loving every minute of it, unfortunatly the oportunities to blog have been rather decreased compared to the amount of amazing stuff we've been doing (not to brag!) So brace yourself for another mamouth email!

On the very evening of our last blog, we headed with our group to Bangkok station, which, unsurprisingly like the rest of bangkok was totaly manic, overcrowded and confusing- however luckily fỏr us we had our very handy, and thoroughly adorable guide Dara with us to sort out our tickets and get us all aboard safely- onto one of the largest trains we had ever seen! Much more comfterble than a cramped airplane, and with a much mỏre interesting view of bangkok citizens eating, drinking, playing cards and even sleeping on ànd around the tracks around us, our 14 hour overnight journey flew by- Tors even made friends with our cabin porter, sharing face cremés, before bedding down in beds which folded out from the seats and ceiling!

Our train brought us to, Chiang Mai, which was a day stop off, giving us a chance to visit a beautiful bhuddist temple on a hill, with a bhudist blessing and fortune telling included!

The following day was many more hours spent on the road so we could hop over the boarder to the beautìul little country which is Laos. The boarder crossing was one of the simplest but most ỉnteresting we have had so far, loading ourselves and luggage into a tiny traditional riverboat and speeding accross the Mekong river! Our first few days in Laos gave us a chance to experience some of the fantastic local culture, food, and traditional Laos beer and Lao Lao (rice wine- 50% pure and deadly fun!) whilst cruising down the Mêkong in a fabulous long boat on a 2 day excursion to Luang Prabang- stopping off on the way at a little village on the rivẻr, which looked as if it had been unchangéd for 100s of years. The Laos people are so friendly and welcoming and loved us takìng photos of them. What divas! Ỏur boat cruise ended in the lovely riverside town of Luang Prabang, where we stảyed in a simply darling little resort, where we spent our time visiting waterfalls and riding elephants through the jungle- getting the chance to wash them in the river! We flew out of Luang Prabang in a tiny plane with propellers to the capital of Vientiane- our first order of business- fixing Tors Camera, which had unfortunalty locked itself a few days earlier, so we were unable to get any elephant pictures!

Next day, we rented out bicycles and Dara took us on a morning tour of the city sights, the most worthwhile of these, was our visit to the COPE centre, which offers aid to people disabled by 'Bombies' or ammunition left over from Americas bombing offencive on Laos during the Vietnam war. This was both informative and interesting. That evening, we treated ourselves to some traditional Laos and Thai massages and facials- pampering ourselves before heading out to stay overnight at a traditional Laos village. we slept in traditional huts, on the floor- but we ate like kings! Enjoying some of the best food in Laos! It was a fantastic experience, but maybe one not to be repeated any time soon...

Next day, 12 hours travel to get across the boarder to vietnam, where we stayed overnight in Ninh Binh to catch our boat out to beautìfuly warm waters of Halong Bay, where we spent the day and night relaxing on a vietnamise sailing junk, swimming in the water and cruising around the caves. The food, service and experience was brillient and all so worth while, however 2 days of calm and tranquillity were quite a contrast to our next and current stop over- Hanoi. Hanoi makes Bangkok look like the garden of Eden- Here there are more people, in a much smaller space, seperated only by the insaine amount of traffic which can be up to several lanes in all directions intent on going rediculous speeds! Our cool, clean hotel room is a welcome retreat after a day in the city!

Yesterday we went to see evẻrybodys favorite corpse- Ho Chi Mhin, who is preserved perfectly (with just a tad too much foundation) in an airtight glass case,for us all to oggle at! A rather interesting morning, which gave us the chance to learn a bit more about the history of Vietnam. Unfortunatly, it didn't teạch John where the good hairdressers were, and a haircut was on the menu! Our whole travel group ended up at this fantastic little hair salon which was convieniently locatated next to some railway tracks, where Tors and Rebbeca got a fabulous head massage, and John and Steven got a haircut! Steven looks 10 ỷears younger, and John is a lỏt more areodynamic! having the closest (and patchíet) haircut of his life. All in all a fun, funny experience!

Later today, we catch another overnight train to Hue, before heading on again to Hoi an for plenty of sunbathing and suit tailoring!

we will upload pictures as soon as its safe to plug in a camera! Untill then, all our love-

John Tors and Sam xxx