Part of me wants to rave on for years, describing my joys, astonishment and bewilderment, the endearment and charm of the people etc, but I also dont want to overdo it (that and Its too daunting to write too much).  So i shant put it off anymore.. a brief (still probably far too long) factual overview of my trip.. the rest you must experience for yourself!!

So Day 1 - well Jan 24th - spent travelling.. arrived in Saigon at bout 11:30pm and went to bed, after a heart-stopping drive through night time motorbike haven.

Day 2.. Christmas Day, but wouldnt you know it they had all the parties last night when we just went to bed.  We walked around and as soon as we were out of our hostel, we realised we were wham smack in the middle of gaijin alley as there were more foreigners than locals. 

Day 3.. Went to the Cu Chi tunnels.  Amazing place - i mean, any group of people who build hundreds of kilomoters of underground tunnels, equipped for living continuously for years in deserves a hand-shake.  Add loud gun fire to my struggle to combat the heat and humidity though and I didnt really enjoy myself.  But really, are you suppose to enjoy yourself in a place where thousands of people fought for their lives?

Day 4.. We started our trip down the Mekong Delta, (bused for a few hours first though).  Rowed  up little inlets of islands to make stops for lunch, to see produce markets, to hold a snake, and just to check out the scenery really.  Topped off with a 5 hour hot, bumpy, crowded bus ride to Chau Doc (still in Vietnam).

Day 5.. Up early to eat a very poor 'breakfast included' breakfast, before boarding another boat.  Went to a floating fish-farm, minority ethnic village before hours of motoring up the river towards the border.  After the amusing ordeal of obtaining a Cambodian visa, we set out in differnt boats again for Phnom Penh, and after 3 hours hopped on buses, finally arriving in Phnom Penh at night.  Beautiful scenery - but slightly faster boats would have still sufficed!! (But, our entire 2 day mekong trip, and hostel, only cost $21 each so whos complaining)

Day 6.. Check out Phnom Penh.. royal palace, riding an elephant at Wat Phnom, the central and russian markets.. and all for $10 for our Tuk tuk for the day (and that we found out was apparently pricey!!)

Day 7.. Fionas bday - and yay for her it involved the Genocide museum and another 5 hour bus-ride.   The museum, which is actually a high school, has been basically untouched since 1979 when the murdering Khmer  rouge who occupied it fled.  In its walls, thousands were interrrogated and held prisoner, being taken to the Killing fields to be executed, and all but 7 died. I swear I could see blood stains on the floor.

Day 8.. Our first of 3 days in Siem Reap, the gateway to the temples of Angkor Wat.  We caught a tuk-tuk today to take us around some of the temples.  Combined with two days later when Aaron and I went back again, I saw about 13 of the temples, or religious areas which are all in varying degrees of decay and each have different aspects to be awed at.  Oh - and today was New years eve so we crashed in on some Aussie blokes wed meet for some good old raucous drinks and carry on. 

Day 9.. our day off.  Slept in before heading back around to the more up-scale hotel that the boys were staying at for a dip in the pool.

Day 10.. Aaron and I went back to visit some more temples but I swear today was the hottest day.  We didnt have a lot of time anyway, but by midday I was sweating soo much I didnt want to walk around or climb up anymore steps!!  We had a flight back to Saigon in the arvo.. and stayed at our fancy hotel ($20 each for the night) which had a shower Fiona and I were dreaming about our whole trip (and then forgot to take a picture of).  It was amazing!! 

Day 11.. We had the whole day to fill in, and i mean the whole day since our flight wasnt until 1am.  So we went shopping, i got my hair cut and dyed, nails done and a facial all for $20!! We meet up with a few other travelling Kiwi/ Fukuoka-ites for din-dins.. and then bid a fond farewell to the warmth. 

I have to go back!  I really want to see more of Vietnam, especially up north, as I feel like I have only had just a taste.  So if anyones keen, let me know.