We figured leaving Singapore with a monsterous hangover, having to get up at 4.45am to catch our flight would be no mean feat. Little did we know the hurdles we would face that long day on January 2nd. We trailed ourselves out of bed, packed up quickly (becoming experts at the rucksack packing these days) and left our lovely air conditioned room behind to confront the constant humidity of Singapore's streets. It's fine we told ourselves, we'll catch up on some well needed sleep on the flight to Saigon. It turns out our lack of proper research into traveling to Vietnam [View Full Entry]

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We took a day trip out to the cu chi tunnels which are situated approx 65k north of Saigon. Visiting the tunnels provided a remarkable insight into what it must have been like for the viet cong soldiers who spent weeks living underground in the claustrophobic tunnels. At it's height the tunnel system stretched over 250k from Saigon to the Cambodian border and was three levels deep. The network included lots of trap doors, living areas, weapons factories and field hospitals. Apparently the tunnels needed to be widened so tourists could enter them as they were not built to suit the [View Full Entry]

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The Mekong river meets the sea in southern Vietnam after winding it's way through Laos and Cambodia from it's source in Tibet. Our three day trip into the Mekong delta provided us with an amazing insight into the lives of the local people who live and work by the river. The delta plain has beautiful scenery - lush rice paddies, quaint waterways and bustling little villages. Getting up at 5am to watch the locals gather at their floating markets to buy and sell all sorts of goods was a definite highlight. It was almost like stepping back in time as much [View Full Entry]

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Hello all, Well following a great couple of days in Brisbane we travelled to Singapore, where we met more relatives for the New Year Celebrations. This time it was the Bannon family, Norbert, Margaret, Catherine(who works in the Irish Embassy and was the reason for the family visit), Christopher, David and Patrick. It was a great few days which Included a New years party on Siloso beach, almost like a one night festival. The dancing legs were on, and it was full daylight before we got home, a good night! [View Full Entry]

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Hello again, After all the festivities in Sydney, on the 27th December we flew to Brisbane to meet up with my Aussie relatives, Nancy, Glen, Janet and Janets fiance Josh, for my birthday celebrations and a few Barbeques....... Once again, we would like to say thanks to those guys for a great time in showing us the sights of the Gold Coast. [View Full Entry]

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While in Sydney, we took a couple of days to travel to the Blue Mountains and take a trek in this beautiful National Park which is home to the Iconic cliffs known as the three sisters. So you see it was not all partying while we were in Sydney, but mostly. [View Full Entry]

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Hello all, Here are a few snaps of our day out at Royal Randwick on Boxing day, and what a day we had. Two winners came home for Lauren and I, one in the first race and another on the last. Just the way you want it! We walked away with a profit and pride. Great day out had by all thanks to Christine and her friends. Enjoy. [View Full Entry]

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Happy New Year everyone! Well its been a while since we last gave you an update, and it seems there is so much to tell and show for the time we spent before Christmas until our recent arrival in Vietnam. It was great to meet up with so many friends and family, especially over Christmas and new year. For over four months we saw no familiar faces then seemed to cram everyone in to a period of roughly three weeks! As you will know xmas day and boxing day was spent in Sydney with Christine. We then jetted up to Brisbane [View Full Entry]

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We enjoyed our introduction to christine's friends at their fancy dress party. Paper snow flakes was the creative option for us, along with a piggy mask I couldn't resist at the local fancy dress shop. It certaintly helped us get in the Christmas spirit! Hope you all have a good one. [View Full Entry]

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Hello all and a Big Happy Christmas to Everyone! We are now stationed in Sydney, Australia for Christmas. Staying with Laurens friend Christine, so great to be in a home rather than a hostel over christmas. Here are a few snaps of our sight seeing so far. [View Full Entry]

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