Hi Ho, Hi Ho.....

NB - http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10610113

I may not be on facebook for a while, but your comments are still appreciated.

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So tired and hungry I arrived back at the hostel to find out that my room had become Finnish party central. They were ending a 3 month study abroad programme and ready to party. As my knowledge of Finnish music extends to HIM, Lordi and The Rasmus very quickly I was lost in the sing-a-long.

Luckily, my other roommate was from Shawlands (note - for my international readers thats in Glasgow) and I escaped for a few drinks with him and his mates. Was woken up at 5 an by a Finn who felt a need to personally say hello to everyone in the dorm. Never has the reply "aye hello" carried so much implied threat.

Next day we took a mass trip to the Hoa Lo Prison (aka the Hanoi Hilton) to see how things were for prisoners during the Vietnamese wars with America and France. Although it was fun to take turns in the "hell of hells" hole the reality for prisoners can't have been very fun. And although the exhibits seemed to show all the happy times I'm sure the US POWs had it a bit rougher than it looks. Although its good to see the flip side of Holywood gloss.

The next day my compatriots headed for Ha Long Bay and after a lie in and lunch I went to the Ho Chi Mihn Maussoleum complex. Now Uncle Ho is currently in Russia having work done to preserve his body, but his house and museum were still there. He's a very interesting man and certainly said some very profound things but the cult of Ho - where he is treated as Jesus meets Princess Di meets Winston Churchill is incredible. In Vietnam, Ho can do no wrong.

My first intro to Vietnamese sleeper trains (with which there are at least two more planned journeys) came that night. They are not quite as comfy as their thai counterparts, but you travel four to a lockable compartment and travel sideways. My three elderly Vietnamese bunkmates weren't that talkative...

ALSO unlike Thai trains, they run early. This means I arrived in Lao Cai ( on the border with China) at 4.45 am. I found myself a minibus tout and slept in his bus for an hour before the tourists train (see me I'm a local) arrived at 6 am. The Minibus was overcrowded but the scenery was great. I was also very amused by the 4 year old Aussie girl screaming " GOOD MORNING VIETNAM" every so often. The sleeping French pensioners were not.