Okay so after our long wait at the train station, because our train was delayed, we got on our sleep train and made our way to Hanoi. The train ride was a bit bummpy but after reading till 1am i found that i fell strait asleep :) :) We woke up in the morning to all the local kids singing and screaming down the train corridoors, Which to say annoyed everyone in our cabin. We had a nice 2 minute noodle dish for breakfast once we were able to find some hot water and then spent the rest of the trip sleeping, reading and eating snacks to pass the time until we got in at about 4. We then got two mini buses to our hotel, because 13 people with masssive packs take up quite alot of room. We arrived at our hotel, the Especen hotel, after our quick and squishy 10 minute ride. We then chilled in our room with the aircon on full blast and watched Wonder Woman (one of the only things we could find in english) until it was 5:30 where we went out for an early dinner. We had dinner at the Marylin Cafe which was really nice and what we all needed. Some of us then went out  to a coffee place, where myself, sasha and Hannah ordered a hot coffee with condenced milk, needless to say were bouncing off the walls abit.

Back at the hotel and going to try and have an early night, but with the coffee that might not be possilbe for an hour or two, oh well, it was so worth it.

Getting up early for a nice long walk around the lake that were staying near and then for a nice breakfast at the Marylin Cafe with a few of the girls.

Nighty night everyone. Try and write tomorow before the sleep train to Sapa for our long trek. Love you all xoxoxox

Okay so today was a pretty full on day. We were painting all morning then we went to lucnh where i orded Vietnamese beef salad which ứa really peppery but still really yummy. We then went to meet Jackie who is in charge of the disabled day care which we continued to sponser two children and then sponsered another child and a teacher for a  year. That was a really nice thing to go and do although Mr Gooley got us a bit lost and we ended up walking an extra block. We then went and took the walking chairs that we got fixed to the disabled shelter, after we got some icecream becasue it was so hot. We then split up to check and grab thinsgs for tomorrows long sleeper train, i.e food and booking our taxis to the train station. Now just waiting for our dinner to arive as tonight we decided to order in. We got a few pizzas, some rice, butter chicken, nahn bread, pasta and then we wnet a brought a cake to share. going to be so yummy.

Talk to everyone after our big Sapa trek, should be challenging but still fun.
Mising everyone to bíts
xoxoxoxo

Talk to u all in about 5 days.

Okay so after looking around a few dress shops yesterday i din't get one made i decided to wait. So on Sunday morning at the project after buying all the paint and supplies the dasy before we started on the corridoor up stairs. Before we could start painting we had to scrub down the walls to make them smooth but because i was breathing in all the dust i left that part to the others while myself and Elsie prepared the paint which meant 5 minutes of stiring (what a good work out for our arms) I should also mention that today was my first day as leader. So we get to be leader for two days and then assistant leader or visa versa. We then started to paint the walls then the top bit of the balcony, lets just say one coat of paint and its already looking amazing. After lunch we came back and did the second coat on the bathrooms and started on the other end of the corridoor. After we finished painting we went to our hotels sister hotel for a swim which was amazing. I refused to get out until my fingers and toes were rinkley (excuse the spelling) and so did many of the others. We had lots of swimmng races in which Elsie beat Mr Gooley (or as we've been calling him for the trip, Garath) We then went and got our dressees made which i was so excited about. At first the place i was going to was going to charge me $87 and it didn't have the nicer material but then because of the awesoem Freja i went next door where they were going to make it for me for $50 and the material is perfect. We all went out to dinner together tonight which was really nnice and so was the food (like always) We all came back to the hotel for some well needed sleep.



Okay so this morning we got up early and had breakfast because we were taking the people from our project down to the beach for the day. It was so beautiful there. White sands and clear blue water but we weren't allowed to go in but luckily we decided early on we were going to come back the next day and go swimming instead. So after a nice relazing mornin of which i dozed off on a beach chair, we had a really nice seafood dish which kept on coming and coming and coming, there was so much food. After getting the bus back we all headed off to pick up our shoes or dresses. I decided to get a nice pair of flats made and then i went and brought a really niced patterend pair of poofy pants and a long maxi dress. We then stopped by one of our favourite shops where i got anohter 2 pillow covers and a few other things for different people then it was off to get my dress. OMG my dress is amazng as. I looks absolutly stunning, well thats what the others said. Just getting it altured as its a bit long and i bit big in the top but im excited cause i get to pick it up tomorrow. Went out to ANOTHER nice but a bit expensive resturant for dinner where i had pasta schells with a really nice tomato sauce, some garlic bread, creme caramels and some ice cream, Which may sound alot but Teri and i went halves in everything. So yummy.

Offr to bed now as we have another long day of painting ahead but this time with me as assistant leader not leader.

Said it befoer and ill keep saying it, Missing you all and love you lots xoxoxo

P.s Dad i hope the next story of the house has gone up as you promised and that yoiu've pretty pls with cherries on top fixed my car. Love you lots. Can't wait to see them ish finished when i get back.

So now i think i have the hang of this language thing. So today we got up early and went out and brough some pants and a top to where for our project because we all decided to get everything washed the night before and so nothing was ready yet. Then at 7:30 we had our delicious breakfast. I had the best Bananana and honey pancake ever with a Mango smoothie thing which was really nice i finished it as soon as i got it which was after my pancake because hannah ứa given my mango one instead of her banana and cinnamon but when i got it it was delicious. We then headed off to where our project was and becasue we are so awesome we booked accomodation just around the corner :) :) Whne we got there i myself found it a bit over whelming but after we started playing soccer it got better. For lunch we went to a really nice Indian restuarant where Teri and i shared a Mild Chicken Coconut cury with cheese and garlic Narn bread. So delicious. I also got a Mango Lassi (as while im here im going all out with my mango, because i miss the fresh mangos from Darwin so so much, along with the thunder storms which we were lucky to get a masive one when we were at Crocodile Lake) and then because it was so hot i got a cold lemon juice as well. We then went for a bit of a wander until 2 when we went out and brough a washing machine for the homeless and disabled place and some painting tools and paint for when we start painting tomorrow. After our lo9ng and really hot day we went to the beach which was so much cooler. The waves were huge and because of the World challenge rules we were only allowed in waist deep but any deper and i think we all would have fallen over twice as many times :) :) the water was so refreshing though. So now after having a nice long shower were meeting to discuss when we go out to get our dresses made so we dont get chaarged to much to say the least.

Mising everyone. Love you xoxo

Okay so  haven't been able to get this working for a few days cause i dont understand the language but i think this might work. Also the computer is making funny spelling checks so there might be a few weird words. So after spending two days in Ho Chi Minh City getting used to the heat and suroundings we got a mini bús to Cat Tien National Park which was absolutly beautiful so peaceful and quiet although it took us 5 hours. When we got there we sorted out our room then we all dinner at one of the resturants there and thyen headed out on a night tour. We were told we might see some leapods, elephants, monkeys and dear but we only saw a few dear but the jungle at night was amazing. Then next day we had breakfast at what became our regular place for when we were there, then we packed up and headed off on our trek to Crocodile Lake. Then trek was a bit challenging at first cause i forgot to put my knee brace on but after i put it on it got alot better it was also abit hard to breath at first with all the thinck air but that got better too. when we got there we all had showers únder the outside shower to cool of and to wassh our leech bites, luckily  i only got on on my tummy which then went a nasty purple colour. we then had the mót amazing dinner and talked for quite awhile.,after we got back the next day we went to monkey island whihc i loved and of coarse i had to búy some things :) We then all had masive showers. In the morney befefore we left we went to the Bear Sanctuary where we not only got to feed the bears but we also got to see the lepod there which was hiding when we went to see it but then it dumped out and scared us all to piececees :) :) We then got on the baardge back off the island where the mini bus was waiting for ú then started the 5 hour journey to the train station. When we got there we still had hours to wait so we had dinner and got Carla and Elly some cake because it was there birthday. We got on the train at 1030 and then departed at 11. The train wasn't tô bad and we all got a goods nights sleep. We Arived at Nah Trang and then got a mini bus to Hoi An which í where we are now. Amaxing to have proper showers and toilets. Speaking òf Showers im of to have one now. Will update everyone again soon.

xoxox Mising everyone heaps.
Also to Dad i have only seen 3 punch buggies which is disapointing but dont worry when i get back ill be sure to punch you extra hard.

Love my family all so much, missing you all. Give Bacchus a huge hug for me xox

Checking accommodation, travel plans and money then off to the airport in an hour. Then on a plane to Melbourne and dinner at the airport. Hmmmm I'm thinking Sushi.

Family are pestering me to post something so here it is.

Fisished packing tonight and everything is now sitting on the couch ready to to go in the morning. In less than 12 hours ill be on a plane to Melbourne and then the KL. So excited.
Unfortuanetly still coughing so thats not so good. Still goign to have lots of fun though.