Countdown - Blastoff!

Well the day of reckoning is upon us.  It has arrived veeeerrrrrrry slowly.  Perhaps I should have started this blog a little closer to the departure date, but excitement took hold, and I ran with it.  We leave tomorrow for Vietnam - via a cost effective, lengthy detour to China.

I've heard all the bag snatching stories, the gastro disasters, the public toilet poo stories, the drug stories, the child snatching stories...but I'm still so damned excited.  As I have said to everyone.  I have 5 children, it wouldn't hurt to loose a few.

I'm aware of the sensible steps to avoid disaster.  I'll try my best.  We will try to wash our hands after using the public toilets - not second nature to our family, but we'll try.  We will keep our bags on our laps when we stop for coffee.  I'll disperse my credit cards through the group.  That way we will have money to continue on should I "go down" in a bag raid.  Sounds exciting eh?  I have my calculator ready should I need to exchange money at the money windows (bastards).  I've jotted down a few $ exchanges in my notebook, so I can determine approximately what I'm being asked for to pay for things.  I've even worked out the calculation I need for on the spot exchanges.  Calculation is as follows:  Asking price / current exchange rate to $1.00 AUD.   So say I'm asked to pay 30 000 Vietnamese Dong, then I just divide 30 000 by the current exchange rate which is around 21 418 VND, and viola... $1.40 AUD.

I have only booked our accommodation for the first 3 nights in Ho Chi Minh City.  From there to Can Tho in the Mekong, and then back up to HCMC where we shall fly to Dalat. After the 5+ hour bus ride from HCMC to Can Tho, I don't think we'll be able to stomach the 7+ hour bus ride from HCMC to Dalat.  From there...who knows.  Basically up the coastline to the north. I am planning at least 2 nights in Hanoi and 2 nights on Halong Bay.  I shall book everything for the next destination once I get to the current destination, if that makes sense.  More adventurous that way.  Probably more likely to get ripped off too, but I'll try my best to avoid shysters.

Most of the trip is going to be documented in video.  I will update the blog whenever I have internet access.  Please don't expect me to look my stunning self at all times, although I am taking along my hairdryer and my concealer (the age spots on my forehead are only getting bigger).  You'd never guess it (shut up workmates), but I am just the teensiest bit conceited.  I now have a camcorder thingo, and I will have the ability to zoom in and out, so it's imperative I attempt to look at the very least, presentable.

We're OFF!  See you in Vietnam!