seventeenth....hot

5.11.07.
6.00AM...ALARM...GOTTA GET SHOWERED...GOTTA DO LAST OF PACK...BREAKIE 7.00AM ...MINI BUS FOR HALONG BAY 7.45/8.00AM...NEED TO SHAKE A LEG...NOT SURE WHICH ONE!
7.00AM...BREAKIE...NEED A CUPPA TEA AND A LITTLE BREAD AND JAM.
7.40AM...WAITING FOR MINIBUS.
8.10AM...PACKED IN...NU AND I HAVE FRONT SEATS...BIT MORE LEG ROOM.
12.05PM...HALONG BAY...SUN BEAMING...ME SWEATING...SUNGLASSES ON...ORBISON STYLE.
12.30PM...ON JUNK[BOAT]...LOOKS OK...WAITING FOR LUNCH...NU AND I GONE VEGGIE...NEVER KNOW WHAT THEY MIGHT SERVE!
1.00PM...SHOWN ROOM...PRETTY GOOD...DOUBLE WITH PRIVATE BATHROOM.
1.35PM...LUNCH...ALTHOUGH GONE VEGGIE...OTHERS GIVING ME THERE NO VEG FOOD...SQUID...PRAWNS...SHRIMPS...SOME OTHER FISH WHOLE INCLUDING EYES...TASTED GOOD THOUGH...RICE...SALAD...VEGGIES...DRAGON FRUIT FOR DESSERT...HAD TO PAY FOR DRINKS THOUGH!
3.00PM...ON DECK...CHATTING...DRINKING RUM AND COKE...SHORTS ON...SUNTAN LOTION...THIS MINI CRUISE IS IN MOTION...SOME GUY IN FLASHY SHORTS PLAYING GUITAR...HEADING FOR CAVES AND A SWIM...NU EXCITED...I'LL HAVE ANOTHER RUM!
4.15PM...AT THE CAVES...GOT CAJOLED IN TO GOING...DUCKED OUT OF THE KAYAKING.
6.00PM...BACK ON DECK.
7.00PM...EVENING MEAL...NOT SURE...DIDN'T EAT MUCH...CHIPS WERE ALRIGHT.
8.00PM...BACK ON DECK...MUSIC PLAYING...PEOPLE SWAYING.
10.00PM...STILL GOING STRONG...WONDER WHAT BAR BILL WILL BE?
11.30PM...OFF TO BED.

6.11.07.
6.00AM...ALARM...HEAD BUZZING.
6.30AM...COLD SHOWER...OUCH!
7.00AM...PACKING...NU GONE ON UPPER DECK...CAMERA IN HAND.
7.30AM...BREAKIE...COLD FRIED EGG...SEMI TOASTED BREAD AND JAM...TREACLE COFFEE.
9.00AM...ON DECK...CAN OF COKE...SUN BEATING DOWN...FEEL GROGGY...NU FULL OF LIFE.
11.00AM...DOCK...BAGS TO CARRY...GOT NO ENERGY.
11.35AM...RESTAURANT...DON'T FEEL HUNGRY,BUT IT'S PART OF THE TRIP.
11.50AM...ONION SOUP...WONDERFUL...FORGET THE REST...ALL I WANT IS CHEESE ON TOAST...THINK I MIGHT HAVE JUST TASTED DOG!
1.15PM...DEPART RESTAURANT FOR MINIBUS...MANAGED TO GET FRONT SEAT AGAIN
...LEG ROOM NEEDED FOR US OLDIES...THE YOUNGER ONES HAVE REALLY LOOKED AFTER US...NOT JUST TODAY...BUT ON MANY OCCASIONS...THEY'RE REALLY GREAT TO BE WITH.
3.00PM...STOPPED FOR LEG STRETCH...INDULGED IN A CORNETTO.
4.30PM...ARRIVE HANOI...STREETS STILL AS MAD AS WHEN WE LEFT.
5.15PM...CHEESE/BAGUETTE/BEER...BOUGHT HOLDALL...WEARING LESS BECAUSE OF THE HEAT...SO MORE CLOTHES TO CARRY.
6.10PM...WAITING FOR SLEEPER COACH TO TAKE US TO HUE[PRONOUNCED WAY]...SPANIARDS HAVE TAKEN OVER...ECHOING FROM WALL TO WALL...NEEDA SHAVE...NEEDA HAIRCUT.
7.00PM...MINIBUS ARRIVES TO TAKE US TO SLEEPER COACH...HOPE I SLEEP!?
7.55PM...FOUND OUR BEDS FOR THE NIGHT...I'M ON TOP...NU BELOW.
8.30PM...ASLEEP.
3.00AM...AWAKE...THE DRIVER IS IN LOVE WITH HIS HORN!

7.11.07.
6.00AM...STILL ON SLEEPER...DRIVER PULLED IN FOR COFFEE.
8.00AM...DROPPED OF IN HUE...5 MINS WALK TO HOTEL...YEAH RIGHT!
8.35AM...FOUND HOTEL...CUPPA TEA PLEASE!
9.10AM...IN ROOM...SORTING LAUNDRY.
9.30AM...SHAVE/SHOWER.
10.40AM...WALKING STREETS OF HUE.
11.20AM...PINEAPPLE MILKSHAKE.
11.50AM...RESTAURANT...PORK/MUSHROOM/ONION WITH RICE...BEER TO FOLLOW.
2.00PM...WALKING BESIDE RIVER...KNEES ACHING.
3.00PM...FOUND FRUIT STALLS...I'VE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH LITTLE MANDARIN ORANGES.
3.40PM...FOUND A LITTLE CAFE...HAVING A BEER...REFLECTING ON ALL WE'VE DONE...ITS REALLY AMAZING...SOME DAYS HAVEN'T SHONE...BUT FOR THE MOST WE CAN HONESTLY SAY WE'VE SMILED AND WE ARE HAVING ONE HELL OF AN EXPERIENCE.
5.00PM...BACK AT HOTEL...LAUNDRY RETURNED CLEANED AND DRIED.
5.10PM...FELL ASLEEP.
11.50PM...WOKE.
12.10AM...DRINKING COOL BEER ON BALCONY...WARM BREEZE BLOWING...WONDERFUL...THANK YOU NUALA...YOU'RE ONE SPECIAL PERSON!