After a short flight we landed mid afternoon in Hanoi.  We had read many things about how the taxi drivers can be a nightmare so we thought we had done the right thing by checking the price at the tourist desk and then getting into an airport taxi - this was a mistake......  After a mad 40 minute journey with mopeds, cars and trucks al...

Well we are finally here, jetlagged, exhausted but here!  The journey started off quite well, the girls were very impressed with my small rucksack (Caitriona's got stuck in the door of her apartment when we were leaving so I felt quite smug), but then I started getting all freaked out that I didn't bring enough stuff.......but I can always ...

Well, the evening started off quite well yesterday when I went to buy cigarettes at the cafe across the road from our hotel. Nobody spoke english so through sign language and showing them a box of Marlboro Lights, we eventually got the message across that I was after cigarettes. So the nice lady shows me a display carton with four different boxe...

On Saturday night we went for a lovely meal in a seafood restaurant that was recommended in the Lonely Planet, and I swear it looked easy to find on the map. Now I know this is hilarious to anyone I have ever tried to give directions to or who has experienced me reading a map, but I have turned out to be very good at reading the map of Hanoi a...