Still Hanoi

Hanoi

Back home and freezing...

We had an uneventful but long trip home, over 5 flights. Arrived to zero degrees, some change from 32 degrees!
We intend continuing blog with snippets from the whole trip as we were always time pressured when writing 'en route'. Also can now upload some photos.

All in all it was an amazing experience, and without the help and support of all friends and family we would not have been able to fundraise the required amount to go. So THANK YOU, once more!

Homeward bound

Made it to Bangkok which seems to be back to normal. No signs of last weeks disruption. Last night at the night market in Saigon - quite a shopping experience, but very cheap if nothing authentic. Today War Museum- quite a different experience - more later as away to get plane to Heathrow.

Phu Quoc to Saigon

We should fly back to Saigon tomorrow. Interesting airport here as the road runs across the runway so as we landed there were motorbikes crossing the runway and driving up and down it! Security???
Very hot here now and strangely all the bars, cafes etc have their Xmas decorations and trees up. Also in stalls are little Santa suits as the kids here dress up on Xmas Eve in Santa suits and are driven around on motorbikes by their parents! Very odd in a Buddhist country! We have photos of Xmas trees/palm trees and Xmas wreaths all together...

Rucksacks to pack.... more tomorrow from Saigon hopefully..

Island Life

Spending time relaxing(?) here after cycle. Relaxing ? as we hired a motorbike to see the island, as only transport available. Cars are too expensive. Motorbike sounds easy but the roads have no tarmac only red dust and grit, so we arrived back covered in dust head to toe and the driving was not easy either. However the beaches are beautiful, the people delighted to see us and all call out hello as you pass. The sunsets over Cambodia are incredible, with all the little fishing boats highlighted against the setting sun. And the food....wonderful seafood and fish. This island is famous for black pepper and fish sauce. They cant grow much else here.

At the Pearl Factory where they harvest pearls for jewellry we encountered a monkey trying desperately to get its Barbie's through the fence to play with...

Back to crazy Saigon on Sat, flight home Sun (we hope)...more later...

Phu Quoc

Now the group has fragmented and off doing our'own thing' before flight home. Got our trophies for completing cycle so R and R now!
We are on an island 15km off Cambodian coast, but Viet. owned. Fabulous undeveloped place, but not for long I fear. Full meal around 3 pounds and so, so good. Especially seafood and fish.
Beach miles long, water warm, palm trees.......
So good after mucky cycling!
Had an hour long massage on beach yesterday for 2 pounds 50 each and wonderful! Just walked over an hour into town to find internet, but reckon hiring a moped tomorrow might be good, but untarred red dust roads. However if we can cycle in mayhem of Saigon and Hanoi this is childs play!

Vietnam truly is a wonderful destination with fabulous people, food and scenery and STILL very cheap by our standards. Visit now before it becomes 'Thailand'!