...and we have just found MARMITE - woohoo.
We are now in Cambodia.
But I shall carry on from I where I left off last time...
So we got the bus to Hoi An (6th Dec) and on the way we stopped at the Marble Mountains near Dalat. ALL the shops sold marble statues some of them were hugh, mainly lions and Buddhas. Once we got to Hoi An we found a hotel, dumped our stuff, hired some bikes and went straight down to the beach. The waves were massive and even though it was well windy and a bit chilly the water was really warm - it was warmer being in the sea than out!!! The waves were really really big and we were being thrown around all over the place - fun!!! When we got back we had a wander around the town, very beautiful, had some din dins and had an early night (long day and the sea was quite hard work)
The next day we explored more of the town - it rained all day and we got soaked. The bus picked us up at 7ish and we carried on for the next leg of the journely down to Nha Trang.
We arrived the next morning (8th). As it was our 4 year anniversary we treated ourselves to a nice hotel and ordered breakfast via room service - FANCY! Then we went out played some pool, Gary got hustled by an 8 year old who said to play him at pool - if he wins (the boy) we buy some of his postcards and if Gary wins he goes away...and the boy won!!!! So we got the postcards...they will be in the post soon :)
We went for a nice meal - mexican!
The next day we went down to the beach - the waves were even bigger than Hoi An, when I was watching Gary from the beach some of the waves were about twice the height of him! I got thrown around a bit and then I got 3 realy big bits of sand actually in my eye :(
We then played some pool and had some grub.

On the morning of the 10th we got the bus to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). We didn't think it was going to be a long journey but it took all day. When we got there it was raining and dark so we just checked into the hotel they dropped us off at and had some dinner.
The next day, the 11th, which should forever be known "carla's da of defeat", we moved hotel (cheaper) and as we were climbing the 86 stairs to our room I banged my head on the stupidly low concrete stairs, so #1 :(.
We went exploring round Saigon, I definately preffered the South to the North of Nam. Saigon is beautiful and it has a much nicer feel to it rather than Hanoi. We walked for miles then went back to the hotel, changed and went out for some dinner and played some pool (with the amount we are playing I might be good one day!) Then as we were going for an after dinner stroll (how quaint!) I sliced my big toe on a random chunk of metal that was just sticking out of the pavement, so #2 :(:(
So we went back to hotel so I could sort myself out, I hobbled, there was blood and I cried. By now I am feeling quite sorry for myself I have had a headache all day and now I missing a chunk from my toe. When we get back to the hotel room I go to swtich on the lamp on the wall in our room and get electricuted!!! OH MY BUDDHA so thats #3 :(:(:( and they say things come in threes. By this time I was well fed up, so I got some m&m's which helped my mood :) Hence this day is Carla's Day of Defeat - CDoD if you will.

12th - we went to the water park today. It was many many funs, we spent all day going on the slides. There must of been 10 people in the whole park and I would definately put it on par with ye olde 'Water Palace' of Croydon fame, if not better. They had a wave machine and a lazy river. But the slides were the best :)
We were starving by the time we got back to we ate loads, then drank loads then played loads of pool and I won!!! hahaha slowly but surely I am getting better.

The next day we went on a cyclo tour around Saigon, it was alright until the guys decided to spend ages getting us back the made us pay for a two hour tour rather than the one hour like we agreed - hhhmmmm - lovely nam-ians and their wonderful trusting natures.
We wandered round for a bit longer and sorted our bus ticket to Cambodia.

So on the 14th we got the bus to Cambodia. The first bus we got on in Saigon we had to wait for ages while the driver sorted something to do with his licence!!! very reasurring! Then when we got to the boarder we had to go through and change buses. Because there quite a few people we had to wait for another bus to show up, this also took ages. Then we had to get 28 people and all their bags into 2 minibuses! We had to use every inch of space, it was quite funny really. We got to Phom Penh and checked into a hotel about 6pm. Had some beer and then went out. Night life is ok here, one bar we went into I was the only western girl, all the other girls were "working" and the manager introdused himself and explained that if you take any girl home with you you have to pay for her - NICE! Oh and there was a sign on the way in requesting you hand in your gun before enetering - again NICE! So had one beer then moved on.

15th December - we bascially just went exploring today, I really like Cambodia, the people are friendly and its so refeshing to be somewhere where they aren't trying to rip you off all the time. We then just played some more pool and drank more beer and went out.

Then the next day, today (yippee she's nearly finished!), we went to the Killing fields and the museum. It was strange to go these places, but it was good to help support the preservation of the graves and I suppose to learn about what happened to so many of the people under the Kyhmer Rouge regime and only a couple of years ago too.
And we found a little shop here that sells marmite baguettes - :)

I think that just about covers everything.
au revoir darlings
:-x