Vietnam

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Got up early to get the bus to the demiliterised zone. Had amazing Indians for the last few days, so glad that they didnt interfere with the journey! Tour guide informed us about things which happened in the war, how it started, etc. Pity because after the war all the locals were eager to get rid of anything which reminded them of the war, and sold lots of the metal to scrap people for a good price. We saw some interesting places and places that were key areas throughout the war. Route 9 was the main road through the middle of Vietnam and we saw a lot of bridges, rivers, monuments and bunkers which still were around. Next was a military base and air strip the Americans held and we saw helicopters, tanks, massive guns, shells and loads of interesting, but sickening, pictures and guns in the museum which brought the war into bloody colour. No pictures of Forest Gump though, gutted.

Lastly, we went to the Vinh Mok tunnels, which are a massive system of underground tunnels which the Vietnamese people lived and hid through out the war and were a key thing for victory. They took 18 months to build by hand and go as far as 22 meters underground. Out of the 17 tunnels we saw 1500 people lived there in tiny 'family rooms' cut into the rock, astonishing how i alone would not be able to stand or lie down in there, let alone a family. There was also a maternaty 'hole' where 7 children were born. Funny watching everyone croutch down, and get scared, this after some of the tunnels had been widened for westerners, and this without getting bombed, raided or being there for up to 10 days at a time with only a 10 minute break after that period! And living there for 5 years all together.

Watched some footy and got free cocktails.

Hue >>> Ninh Binh >>> Hanoi

On this night bus, which was 5pm till 7am (of course they told us it was meant to get there at 4am), sleep wasnt an option with the bloody constant beeping of horns we've come to expect from Vietnam. When we find a t-shirt shop we're going to get 'honk if your horny t-shirts'! The 'Welcome to Ninh Binh' sign came and the 'Thank you for Visiting' sign left as the driver who probably was high off some substance or other forgot we were meant to stay there! Stayed on till Hanoi where the hotel workers were met with lots of characters looking like Death!

The rest of the week basically consists of us finding a place called 'Le Pub', watching football to all hours of the morning, getting blagged off the hotel workers to book a trip to Halong bay, more Le Pub, and winging at the strangely English like weather.

A day trip to Halong Bay broke the above scenario and was quite impressive. Masses (3000) rock structures emerging from the sea. We went to an island which had a huge cave in it which was lit quite well with coloured neons, and the usual stalagtite buisness. Then we went to look at a floating fishing village with a school provided by the good old English. This was near where they filmed part of a James Bond movie (the one with Nick Nack in i think) and we took a littler boat to see that.

Bangkok bound again, with Huss nearly spewing from watching crash scene investigation this week!

More rubbish computers so unable to put pics or vids on, but try to sort it soon.

Laters.