When We Were In Nam...

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To Pete's Mum!! Where is Pete and yes if we find him we will buy him a drink...haha!! Thankyou for reading!!

We arrived in Luang Prabang and were quickly shipped off by tuk-tuk to Houang Xi Waterfall, which was pretty spectacular and wet! Made up of a series of lagoons and waterfalls which we climbed to the top of(ignoring the 'Danger' signs) and Natalie naturally fell in!! Then came the modeling shots in the waterfall.... what posers!!

Next, followed by far the longest and most tedious journey to date.... 12 hours it was claimed but alas this was not the case, overcrowded, street vendors boarding the bus, no reclining seats, non-stop wing-wong music... 19 hours later we arrived in Xam Nua a bit delirious! Then we embarked on the next 12 hour journey.... need i say more.... and arrived at the border of Nam (looks like we beat you to it Ru ....HA!!!) but stupidly had no money for the bus and no cash point for about 200km.... then came our saviours.... two complete $%^ts who lent us the money but decided to opt for the bitching-about-how-stupid-we-are rather than accepting our gratitude. So we aptly lost them and hope never to see them again!! After a invasive searching of bags (explaining the Del Oro bottle was fun!) by customs we left for Hanoi and the big boxed tortoise - apparently a central part of Hanoi legend which we only found out after seeing it!! Tonight saw one of the first drinking nights in a long time and the reintroduction of the cow suit!!! The receptionist guys got a shock!!! And we never got the moo-sic we asked for either!!

From Hanoi we went to Halong Bay (not at all as beautiful as everyone thinks) so we headed to Cat Ba Island and a hotel built into the side of a mountain. "Paul what do you think was built first??? The Mountain or the hotel??" After a rainy start, we did some sunbathing and indulged in a hot-pot meal with our own personal waitress/ chef. Then we headed down South towards Saigon stopping at Hue, where we visited the Royal Tomb Tu Duc. Here we did a spot of fancy dress!!! Hope you find the pics as amusing as us!! Next we went to the Forbidden Purple City, which was the ruins of an ancient Emperor's City and we got to see some traditional dancing and shows for free... dont ask!! Then we travelled through the DMZ to Danang where we saw the Marble and Monkey Mountains known from the war.

After much stress at the bus station we headed off for Nha Trang, which although really touristy, was a lovely beach and an even better break from the hustle and bustle of travel, which we clocked at 32 hours in a 72 hours period. After a 'creative' day on the beach, we indulged in a relaxing day at the health spa... mud soak, sunbathing, hot mineral shower and soak, hydrotherapy, massage then waterfall and swimming.... such a lovely day!! And all for $6... we were beautiful afterwards!!

From Nha Trang, we arrived in Hoi Chi Minh City (HCMC) or Saigon. We spent two days here and managed to see quite a lot, including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the War Remnants museum.... pretty harrowing!! Then the following day we decided to chill out a bit and got to Dam Sen Park (a theme/ water park for kids!!) After a 10km walk there we went on rollercoasters and other rides as well as a giant freezer where there were ice carvings and sculptures and was a very welcomed break from the scorching weather. We even went on a HUGE big wheel which was about the creakiest thing we had ever heard!! After probably another 10km walk around the place we decided to get a motorbike home and got drunk and had a waterfight!! Will we ever grow up?

After a lovely ten days we headed for the next border and to Phnom Phen in Cambodia.......

Till next time...

P.S Happy Birthday to Gav the Snav on the 26th!!!! (Trees tell him I said that!!)

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Photos

Houang Xi
Another waterfall shot.... but aint we cute!!

Houang Xi
Pauls reliving the Fiji... Timotei

Houang Xi
"Anything you can do, i can do better"

Houang Xi Waterfall
This is where Nat fell in... not down...fortunately!!

Houang Xi Waterfalls
Lots of pretty pictures

Luang Prabang
What a view

Hanoi
Pipers 4 stages to a cheap drink!!

Cat Ba Bay
View from the beach

Cat Ba Island
A boat!!

Cat Ba Island
View from our moutain hotel room

Tu Duc
Time to dress up!!

Lake at Tu Duc
A pink flower

Forbidden Puple City
The purple city that is grey

Forbidden Puple City
Dancing

Musical Statues
Guess which ones us??

Nha Trang Health Spa
Getting dirty to get clean

Dam Sen Theme Park
Awwww

Notre Dame Cathedral
No we didnt go to France

Saigon Fun
There were three on a bike!!!

Comments

[daveed]

i cont beelieeeve it!!!
fucking hell, i've been saddened to hear that only 4 readers have been recognized on your last journal, although, checking the comment box, only 1 of mine has been registered, which is a bit bugging coz i've read through ALL 45 chapters of your adventures, (sometimes twice coz a bit tipsy which fluffs up the numbers a bit), and probably left at least 5 comments (which in retrospect is a big number compared to what goes on in britains nowadays, since as i didnt think you wanted to hear about terrorist attacks....or did u?) anyhoo, hope you're not sick of rice and vegetables ( i hear cows are sacred, get the suit out for shielding) I'm waiting for papers before setting off myself, but i dont think i'll be writing blogs as interesting as yours....(and i cant top the pic of paul with the ladyboys, unless i wear a gay T surrounded by rednecks in texas) to be continued love xxdaveed

[Cathy]

Hey!
Just to let you know that i've been reading the blog... every single one!!! They've been very amusing! Glad your having such an amazing time! I'm jealous! Keep safe! see ya soon Cathy x x x x P.S Paul.. I was in Brighton at the weekend with Dan, went to honeyclub on sat night, was brilliant!! Always reminds me of the first time we went there, very messy!

[Wayley Hayley]

sexy bitch
My god arent you just a sexy bitch on the waterfall, ya little supermodel. once again, loving your holiday journal. Youve been to so many cool places. I must ask, how do you know to go to all these places. Guess wat guess wat. Im moving to the Gold Coast. One month and ill be up there. Emma from work moved up there today for there last stretch of time in Oz so i decided i would meet them up there. i have to get away from here now, im going insane over mark still so im just gonna leave. Funniest thing tho, emma got there and its pouring with rain. And here its hot and sunny. I think thats funny anyway. byeeeee, miss you. keep having fun.