Wednesday

Had a really full 36 hours and now getting freshened up before taking the night train to Nha Trang where we stay 2 nights. Some talk of a mud bath but we thought it was muddy enough in theMekong Delta after a tremendous thunder and lightning storm and torrential rain. Those in the know will be pleased to hear that my elbows are intact despite the storm.

Sunday/Monday

Have arrived in Vietnam. There's a huge Irish presence here - there's only two of us but we're huge in relation to the Vietnamese (the women in particular). Went for a walk yesterday after our arrival and soon learnt the rules of the road - there are none! They say there are 4 million motorcycles in Ho Chi Minh - we saw them all yesterday when we tried to cross the road. We met with our group and Phoong our leader and then went on a cyclo tour of the city - what an exercise in trust! Can't tell you much about the sights as it's hard to see anything when your eyes are tightly closed. I did more praying during the tour than I've done in the past 40 years! It's very difficult to make statements here - they all end up as exclamations. Enjoyed a lovely meal out with the group - 5 courses of Vietnamese food. Things are looking up - last night I slept with a millionaire - don't worry - so did Jim! We changed a 100 euro and got 2,900,000 dong. It will be hard to keep up this lifestyle with beer around 20,000 dong and wine around 30,000 dong.

Monday

Today we went to the Cu Chi Tunnels and the War Remnants Museum - a rather sobering experience. It was very interesting but also very depressing - to think that all of this happened in our lifetime and is still going on in places. Phoong thinks we need to regroup with a beer before we go to eat again. We also went to a lacquer factory where handicapped people produce exceptionally high quality artwork using duck eggshells, mother of pearl, painting and polishing skills. It was beautiful stiff but not much room in the luggage - will have to ditch some of the clothes.

Tomorrow we are off to the Mekong Delta and to our homestay accommodation - it will be interesting for 13 of us to share one shower and toilet and all sleep (or quietly stay awake) in the same room.

Day 1 of Vietnam Experience

In hotel in Bangkok awaiting shuttle taxi to airport to get flght to Ho Chi Minh City. Breakfast lovely - some strange fruit and egg noodle stir fry. Still acutely conscious of the huge gap between the luxury of our hotel and the scene outside our bedroom window. Don't know how much time I will get to update this once we are in Vietnam.

One night in Bangkok

Arrived safely in Bangkok, smoothly through passport control to collect our luggage. Stepped outside to the sauna and returned to the terminal till the nice Thai man brought our luggage out to the shuttle bus to the hotel. Thai people too polite for Jim! Quite a good hotel but outside our window it's a different world - shanty town. Watched a family perched on their table obviously preparing the evening meal. Appreciating the air conditioning as we enjoy a beer (Jim) and a Chardonnay (and I always say I don't like Chardonnay) and a really lovely Thai meal. Kin Thao in Athlone definitely authentic from this experience.

Packing day

Packing day. Margaret the Chemist was planning to check the obituaries this evening but thankfully no murders committed in the King household - it was close though! Jim seems to believe that the travel documents can somehow make their own way out of their safe spot in the carry on bag as he checks frequently to see that they are still there. Early to bed and hopefully to sleep...

Wednesday 22nd October - Panic stations chez Kings! All the packing still to do as well as remaking beds after our Australian visitors. Have to leave the house properly set up for our Brisbane Homelinkers. Thank God for house angel Ann who will ensure that everything is finally clean and tidy.

Learning how to blog

I'm taking advantage of Brian's visit to sort out all computer queries and to learn how to blog!