Don't stay in the jungle if you don't like spiders.

We embarked on a 1 night/ 2 day Mekong Delta tour, including a homestay, a couple of days ago. No reception or internet for 2 days and snakes and spiders a plenty. We spent the first day boating around the mangroves, cycling and generally sweating buckets 'cause they don't have air-con in the jungle! 4 of us were separated from the rest of the group to go to our local host's home for the night which was interesting. We were told we would have dinner with the family and get to know some local traditions but in reality, we were left alone. In the jungle. We slept in wooden huts, our nets had holes and our mattress wouldn't allow us to tuck the net under. I showered with 3 lizard cutie-pies but that's an adventure, right? Safe to say I didn't sleep. 

Up at 5am. Our host took us on a walk through the fields to show us where he works, then back to the huts for breakfast. Due to the language barrier, I hadn't been prepared for climbing branches across rivers or slugging through long grass. Like, does no one else know that snakes live in fields? Do they not care?! It was an incredible sunrise though. 

Sunrise and Sand Dunes

It's been a slow process and one which I've worked really hard on but it's finally happened. I have a tanned face. A TANNED FACE! This is unprecedented in the history of me tanning. Don't get me wrong, I still kiiinda look like I just haven't washed in a few months but the tan is real my friends. 

Don't say a word, mum. It's not dirt. 

Asides from that excellent news, I'm currently in Mui Ne, which is a little coastal town 4 hours north of Saigon. I took the recommendation from someone in my dorm to do the sunrise jeep tour to the sand dunes and boyyyyy was that a good call. See photos for confirmation. First stop was the white (and much more impressive) sand dunes to watch the sun rise and what a trek that was. Second stop was the red sand dunes and last stop a fishing village. All for £3. Yup...look at me smiling at 4am! A day for firsts!

the struggle is real

There's really not much to tell from the last week. I spent a week at the beach, or at least I tried, but fried myself on day 4 and couldn't go outside after that. Hot-footing it from restaurant to cafe to shop. It was all kinds of relaxing but not at night trying to sleep without any back part of my body touching anything. I drank one too many pitchers on my first night in Danang and had to add 3 days on to the trip because, apparently, I'm not a sprightly 21 year old anymore. PFFT. The struggle is real.
Up at 6.30am this morning to beat the heat and get to Ponagar Cham Towers which overlook Nha Trang. The Ponagar towers will look similar to the temples in the last post but this is on a much smaller scale and has already been restored. Entry worked out at 60pence. yuh.
And then I got a pedicure for 70pence.
Ladies and gents rejoice!

p.s I missed my bus this morning to Mui Ne because, you guessed it, I can't handle hangovers. The hostel receptionist came running into the dorm at an ungodly hour calling my name because there was a bus full of people waiting outside. I was able to muster a few sorrys before going back to sleep.

Mỹ Sơn

Mỹ Sơn has definitely exceeded my expectations. It was another place that has been on my list for years and years and one of the first images that made me desperate to visit Vietnam. I went at sunrise, a very bumpy hour (the kind of bumpy that makes you wish you'd toned up slightly) outside of Hoi An in the dense jungle, and except for the people I was with, had the place to myself. 

Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary is made up of large areas of Hindu Temples dating back to the 4th century and although time has done damage, bombing of the area during the Vietnam War destroyed a lot of the area. 

Here is my face as proof I was actually there and did not snatch these images from Google. Sorry. This is the only one where I don't look scared...because it's weird and difficult smiling for a selfie.

R.I.P

RIP pre-Vietnam immune system.

I'm still recovering from my, we'll just call it "travel sickness" but I've since been to Hue (pronounced Hway) and now in Hoi An. I probably would've stayed in Hue a little longer but I really needed to feel the ocean breeze on my sweaty ill face y'know? I'm putting the exorcist episode down to my malaria tablets which my mum is warning me to keep taking. Yes I'm in Vietnam and she may be very far away in Scotland but if you knew my mum. Well. It was my last tablet anyway last night and I can already feel my organs high-fiving. 

I'm still waiting on a panic-stricken email from my dad but he seems to be containing himself. 

I plan on doing a cooking class in the next couple of days and heading to the beach but for now I'm heading out to have some dresses tailored. Check me dipping my big toe in the life of luxury!

Happy Friday folks!!!

Sapa

I've had somewhat of an exorcist episode the last week. I don't know whether it's the food or just my non-smoking immune system but hopefully it buggers off soon. I know, what the hell Vietnam. So, I hadn't been up to much but I couldn't stick around Hanoi forever so I took advantage of the only storm-free days in Sapa and headed there. Because what's better for a cold than trekking through hills for 2 days!

Check. Out. THAT. View.

I mean just as well after a 6 1/2 hour bus journey including the most sweat-inducing, tense 2 hours of my LIFE, up the mountains. Who needs skydiving?! 

We spent the two days trekking through the local villages, accompanied by local Hmong women who belong to an ethnic group living in the valleys. I know everyone says it but honestly the photos don't do the place justice. The sheer scale of this place is incredible.