Hue - Hoi An and onwards...

Before i start i would like to just point out a typo on the last post, the sleeper bus was most definately not 1 hour but 10....

Anyway so having got onto the sleeping bus - which i must say is one of the most interesting experiences of my life, we tried to getcomfortable for the 10 hour journey that lay ahead - hopefully to more travellers and a more vibrant city. In reality the bus really wasnt that bad... we each had a "bed" (yes definately made for the locals as my feet, i mean legs were completly hanging off unless i curled into the tightest ball i could make) we also ha 1 blanket between 2. As we walke onto thebus both Emily and i could not stop laughing - there must have been 60 people jammed in with "plenty of space" the driver seemed to think. The beds were camp bed/buisness class airline seats (for midgets) and there was one bed ontop of another with 5 bes at the back. We luckily were on the top row and therefore didnt get as chlostrohobic as we could have done - but we couldnt help laughing hystrerically as we looked at the "5" seats underneath us which had at least 8 people squashed in, little did the 2 german tourists who were about to get on that would be where they were bunking too!! Anyway so the bes were... fine, and i was particularly comfortable with a free bed beside me until at the next stop a small old vietnamese man came and snuggled up inbetween me and another traveller 2 beds away. This was fine until he started sleep talking in Vietnamese and started slowly inching his way over in his sleep closer to my side of the "bed". In true Vietnamese style throughout the night ring tones with old chinese songs started playing horifically loudly, the bus driver was smoking like a chimney (and his window obviously wasnt working as he just opened the door when he lit up) and worst of all the disgusting sound of people spitting on the floor seemed to echo throughout the bus, making it surprisingly hard for either Emily or I to muster the strength to go to the bathroom especially as our shoes had been taken away earlier! .... So all in all a good trip!! ... no it really was fine but liek i said an experience!

Anyway when we got off in Hue (which is considerably more South, and considerably more humid and hotter) we strarted our trek to find a hotel - which we hadnt booked in advance. Anyway with my lonely planet by my side for reference when a rep came from one hotel that sounded cheap and happy came along we gave him our bags and followed him. Again down a backalley this hotels neon lights made us slightyl dubious but for $6 each a night and a backpackers bar/cafe across the road we thought that we could always leave on the 2nd night. The room was surprisingly fine, with a nice balcony with a view of soemone elses house and hot water that lasted more than 5minutes, it looked pretty good to us. As we got there at 6.30 in the morning and had had very little sleep from the night before we decided we best get some sleep and start of our day at lunch time. After Lunch we rented push bikes and took ourselves on a tour of the city. This we found was the best way to get aroun - the road rules dont seem as stupid when you are on the road and you actually understand the echoes of horns and people shouting, i will never understand whythough people will still offer you a taxi at a stop lighht when you quite obviously are riding a bike... intriguing. We cycled all down the river and on both sides of the city (which is split by the river) stopping at great photo oppurtunities and for the occasional drink. This was amazing - just to be out on our own with no map and just being completly emersed into the city life, this we found was the way to do it!

Having said that, the next day we decided to hire a motorbike tour (where we get driven around by two men on the back of motorbikes looking at all the sites etc.) This was the best experience of my time here so far. The guides took us down little country lanes and only went on the main road if we ha to, this was the perfect way to see locals doing everyday things without trying to sell the tourists anything. The guides also took us to sites that werent offered by normal guides, meaning we didnt have to pay and we didt have to battle through a gang of tourists just to take a photo of a temple with no one in it. Among one of my favourite sights was the bunkers that were used in the war, amazing to see and it also looked across the river where boats carrying logs and bamboo and animals were chugging along. On the country roads we saw poeple making incence and leaving them on the road to dry.... it literally looks like someone has just spray painted the road in yellow and bright pink an green!

So after our very enjoyable and eventful time in Hue the next day we got the bus 4 hours away to a place a little more south called Hoi An. This is the textile/fabric capital of the world, and in wantign to experience each place to the full i have had 4 things made from a local tailors for 40 US an i get them toay having ordered them yesterday. It is amazing you just look through all these catalogues they have (which come from places like ASOS and Next!!) and they (hopefully) duplicate the item for you in whatever colour and material you want! ... So we shall see if they turn out to be any good this evening, typicl student though i went to the most budget tailor in order to save money!! It is amazing here, the roads are quiter and easier to drive on an the people are so friendly its hard to imagine how anybackpackers get their stuff stolen. This is hard though because you never know if they are ripping you off or not (which undoubtably they are) - however as my mum said - "at least they are doing it nicely!"

Emily and i rented 1 motorbike for two days - this has been an experience. I Have driven motorbikes before however emily has never so as we came up to a junction instead of turnign (as the nikes are so heavy and fair enough are really hard to turn) she zoomed forwards and i nearly flew off the back! ... They are really hard to drive though especially with 2 people on them, but great fun never the less!

We went to a bar last night with some Aussie girls we had met, which was great fun -however Emily seems to have eaten something bad as she is feeling really rough and is really rather sick. So today i am just on my own going around the city centre while she catches up on some sleep. I hope she is better by tomorrow as we travel again on the sleeping bus ( this is a more expensive one with only 18 beds) to Ho Chi Minh/Saigon where we finish our travels through Vietnam and move onto Cambodia. But i cant imagine that the 12 hour bus ride will be particularly confortable if she is still feeling ill.

We are staying in Saigon for 3 days so will try and update from there! ... love the emails an bbms im getting - so keep 'em comin!!!!

Lots of love and misses xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx