Well yesterday was the first day it didnt rain. Still pretty damp underfoot though. I met Nick again at the cafe on Le Loi (main street for the 'old' town) doing what most Brits do on a Sunday - drink coffee and read the paper. An American from LA called John was talking to him and I soon joined in as he was discussing politics! John was a real lefty democrat and we had a surprisingly intelligent conversation. In Johns view the Nobel Peace Prize given to President Obama was the rest of the World breathing a sigh of relief that there was now someone sane and reasonable running the worlds largest military machine and in charge of the largest economy. He reckons its surprised America more than anyone and they've finally realised how far way ... read more

I am now fully recovered from the illnesses of the last week however, a more ominous problem has shown its face as of yesterday. My old friend tendonitis in my left foot, very painful and debilitating. If this doesn't clear up then it's game over and I may as well go home. Anyway, I've not given up yet and I still might be able to buy some analgesic cream from a pharmacy - that will control it at the very least. Changing the subject I will never moan about Britains rainy climate ever again after this - it has rained solidly here for 5 days now! Right off to find a pharmacist.... read more

Well it had to happen sooner or later. I've been flat on my back feeling pretty grim for 4 days now with heatstroke and guess what? The first day I feel ok and it's been rainining as only it can in the tropics since sunset last night! Looks like I'm going to have to cancel plans for my visit to the DMZ and concemtrate an a Perfume River boat cruise tomorrow - whatever the weather! And Thursday I'm off to Da Nang by train and then taxi to Hoi Anh - this is supposed to be a very charming quaint town with an entire street of tailors in the old fashioned chinese style shop houses. This is not so unusual as most of the Vietnamese who have any sort of shop seem to live in it ... read more

Well I had a lie in this morning and went off for some breakfast, yes you guessed it, a bowl of beef noodle soup with chilli sauce (pho) and then got suckered into a motorbike tour of the Forbidden Palace, the Emporers Tomb, an old wooden bridge (built 1776) and a village where they made incense sticks by hand. This took about 3 hours and cost $15. I managed to get lost in the Emporers Tomb complex anmd couldn't find the way out - so I asked one of the staff who played dumb and produced a map of Hue - not exactly what I was after but useful anyway - he asked me for $1 for it and trying to be helpful I pull out my wallet with a load of VN Dong in it ... read more

10th November 2009 05:30 - Get up at stupid o'clock as got to be ready and checked out by 07:00 as Chung and the car are arriving to pick me up. Chung by the way is the best guide and motorbike man in SaPa. He was born in a remote village and moved to SaPa 10 years ago with his wife. I you ever get to SaPa give him a ring on 0916053009 (mobile). The Cat Cat View hotel is ok but if you stay here make sure you ask for a room on the 7th floor - better views and no noise from the street - I was on floor 2 and the noise of moptorbikes and minibuses beeping away until 01:00 every night was not conducive to a good nights sleep! After a great ... read more