i am basically addicted to vietnamese food now. it only took three days.

i have had culture shock and spring rolls. i have played yatzy with swedes and swum in halong bay with the french. i have eaten salad even though i promised my travel doctor i wouldn't. not to mention the precut fruit i have risked my health for.

and the shopping. i have become a bargaining machine. i walk away saying "too expensive". and you'll all be pleased to hear that i may have bought even bigger sunnies than i already owned.

i am in hanoi. the capital of vietnam. but have only spent two days here. the bulk of my time has been in halong bay - the unesco world heritage site. it took my breath away. my journal, which i have been obsessively keeping, is full of gush about it. i needn't repeat it here. but i have been blown away. my legs are sore though from the number of steps i have climbed to get good panoramic shots of the bay.

tonight i will eat pho. my favourite vietnamese dish so far (although their croissants rate very highly too). a reunion with my swedish and french companions. i can't wait to tell them about my bargain hunting...