Jo and Hayley's SEA journal From Vietnam to Bali, our most extensive South East Asia trip yet!

After a final fairwell lunch, hugs and tears, we left Hoi An in a hire car and headed for Hue. The weather changed markedly as we headed North, very grey, misty and drizzly. Time to get the cool weather clothing out! We arrived at our hotel, The Riverside Century around 5pm. It is a huge hotel, was the first luxury hotel in Hue, now a bit dated but spacious rooms and the softest mattress, after the concrete slab in Hoi An is awesome!!! The place is decked out for Christmas, pretty nice! We had an early dinner, pizza for me and chicken and cashews for Hayley. Nice to be able to regulate our own intake again, hoping to drop a couple of kilos....maybe ha ha! We caught up with our friend Linh, and said a few hello's to some familiar faces. Thought we would have an early night, and after a problem with the hot water and a quick room change we settled in for the night. Up early this morning, quick circuit and sample of the breakfast buffet (really nice big fresh passionfruit) and headed off to meet Linh and our other friend Anh for coffee. They took us on motorbikes to a beautiful coffee house, a beautiful old building with lots of orchids and bonsai in the immaculate gardens, some sizeable carp in the fishponds. Then we decided to buy some warmer coats with Linh and Anh's assistance. Hayley got a very stylish black coat.... I'm actually REALLY jealous! For me it was a bit more difficult, I'm bigger and fatter for Asian sizes but half a dozen shops later found a nice dark grey woollen fitted coat with a nicely lined hood and lapels in black and white check. Then lunch of what is starting to be my favourite, Banh Xi, rice flour and beansprout, prawn and pork fried pancakes, and pork mince cooked on stems of lemongrass. Off to the Big C supermarket for a wander, always different and enjoyable to see whats floating around the seafood section, did'nt see any containers of frogs this year... Brought a couple of umberellas and bits and pieces, and now we are just chilling out at the hotel. We are'nt doing much touristy stuff here this year, so not too much of interest to report. Looking forward to Shanghai in 5 days time. Love to everyone! xxxxxxxxx