Geo: 20.1833, 105.483I think it's around 15th December and I've booked into a hostel in Hue for Christmas Eve, I hope I make it on time as it's approx. 800km, it really depends on the terrain and the weather. Getting out of Hanoi was chaos, and there is a lot of one way streets which meant my planned route was slightly off! I had taken a few snapshots of maps on my phone for the route out which was just as well as my phone didn't pick up a signal all day.So I set off on my adventures and manage around 110km although I've no idea the name of the place I'm staying as my GPS isn't locating me at all, but arrive at Tuan Phuong Hotel (180,000 VND or £5.60) and the journey down was ... read more

Geo: 20.9063, 107.082I timed my journey to Hanoi so I could arrange a trip out to Halong Bay for my birthday and what an adventure it turned out to be. I met a lovely girl Maria while booking up and a young guy Adrian so we all booked the same trip together. I had already done some checking and we were getting a good deal on the two night tour which meant one night on board a junk out in Halong Bay (on my birthday) and one night on Cat Ba island the following day. In the morning we all met at the reception and it turned out 20 of us all from the hostel were on the same tour, 5 guys from Argentina, 4 Israeli girls, 3 German guys and a few more … which ... read more

Geo: 22.3653, 103.791Well it's fast approaching that time of year again and the turkey's getting fat, Christmas trees and decorations are displayed in their elaborate fashions while the mistletoe is hung, in preparation for the festivities to begin. The shopping is always a thought, but before you spend all your hard earned cash, I'd like to ask that you give a thought this Christmas, in particular, to the street children in Nepal. To witness their poverty was heartbreaking but to see their lives being transformed by just-one was nothing short of a miracle, so this Christmas-time please help to enable this miracle to continue.While I was staying in Kathmandu back in January, a friend suggested cycling from China to Australia and I jumped at the chance of maybe being able to join them. It immediately struck ... read more

Geo: 22.4751, 103.974I love border crossings, although I'm always a bit on edge until I'm through because I don't ever give myself any leeway with visas. This is the first border I've crossed with my bike, the first of many I hope, I leave it outside while I head in and get my passport stamped, I'm then sent round to join the queue at customs with all the other bicycles, tricycles etc. which was funny. I managed to cross without hitch, across the bridge and into Vietnam and the differences between the two countries are immediate especially the buildings which are narrow and colorful instead of multistory. I spot a church across another bridge which I head for as it's the first one I've seen in a long time, and outside is a fantastic market, everything ... read more

Geo: 25.05, 102.7It was a relief getting into the hostel for a proper bed, shower and to re-organise myself after my trip down, I'm tired from my journey and head to bed for a couple of hours once I arrive. It takes more out of me than I realise, but I suppose camping on top of the cycling all day really does take it out you (not mentioning the mountains). I forget I'm a new start at all this and haven't cycled in years, so I am actually really proud of every mile I manage to cycle, I never thought in a million years I'd be cycling my way through China, I mean, I must be crazy!After my first night in the hostel I'm eaten alive, although I thought I had the mosquito repellant switched on, ... read more