Saint patricks day has come and gone here ... and all was good fun. While your average Ho Chi Minh'ian doesnt know the complete historical significance of march 17th, there are enough paddies out here to mean that the day didn't go unnoticed (Even if that did mean there was a $10 cover on all the Irish Bars - $10!!! Thats two night accomadation).

On the grounds that we've hardly been exhausting ourselves here in Saigon, we've decided to forgoe the lounging around the beach option in favour of heading straight up to Hanoi. We're going by train (its takes about 30 hours!!) so should get us in sometime sunday I think.....

That'll give me 4/5 days to see the sights before flying from Hanoi back to Bangkok.

Saigon's been good, kinda low key - but in a good way. Spent a lot of time with Kieran, (and his missus) .. even managed to fit in a game of bowling ... We managed to make a bar called Saigon our surrogate home.

Found a nice eaterie ... which sells a wonderful tuna curry (reminds me of lunches in the canteen) ... maybe Vietnamese food is picking up ...

Oh and Oh my God Vietnamese Girls ... I refuse to be drawn in a debate on which south east asian country has the nicest ladies. Thats a purely philosophical question ... a lot like how many angels can dance on the head of a pin (Pin in this context is not a methaphor - well of course its a metaphor .. just not for what you think - dirty buggers!!) ...

Michael