The End

So, I have returned.  Arrived at Brisbane Airport nice and early this morning.  It may have been 7am Brisbane time but to me it still felt like 4am (which it was in Vietnam).  I’m glad to be done with airports for the time being.  My few hours in Singapore were really good – they have the best airport, but the time I spent in Hanoi’s Noi Bai airport is time I’ll never get back.  It’s definitely the crappiest airport I’ve seen, and it’s incredibly small for being the airport of a capital city.  I was glad to see the back of it.  Didn’t sleep much on the plane.  Those seats are just not built for comfy napping, so I’ve been catching up at home today. 

So, this is the end of my travel blog.  Thanks to those who joined me on my trip and read it. Considering it was an experiment I think it’s gone alright and hopefully hasn’t bored anyone too much.  Thanks again to those who wrote in and kept me posted on happenings at home and let me know someone was actually reading the blog (other than my Mother)  : )

…I guess it’s time to return

Well, it will be good to see everyone again, but I really don’t want my holiday to be over.  I spent my last day in Hanoi having a wander around the Old Quarter and buying lots of stuff (or at least spending a bit of money).  I guess now it’s time to come back to reality   I head off to the airport at 10am and my flight leaves there at 1.30pm.  I arrive back in Australia on Friday morning, nice and early.

P.S. I think I’ve lost my torch.  I know I had it in Sapa during our rice wine evening but I don’t think I packed it up last night in Hanoi.  I have no idea where it’s disappeared to or when it disappeared.  Just as well it was an el cheapo supermarket one.

Almost in Vietnam

Good afternoon.  I’ve arrived in Singapore (free internet access in the terminals!) and everything is fine so far.  I had a lovely view of engine from my window seat which reminded of the excellent youtube montage of airplane and helicopter crashes Sharon and Anita so thoughtfully showed me yesterday.  Thanks  

Am a bit over the plane thing even though there’s still a few hours to go.  Though it must be said I don’t begrudge enforced time spent on movie viewing and magazine reading (life’s so hard).  So far I’ve watched Angus thongs and perfect snogging – good, Journey to the centre of the earth – not so good, and just over half of Iron man.  Hopefully I’ll get to finish it at some point but they took away my headphones because we were landing soon (I don’t know, such efficiency).  Hope all is well wherever you are, and here’s to arriving at a hotel sometime in the next six hours.

Thankfully I’ve finished packing

Aaaah, it’s an early start tomorrow to get to the airport.  Although the flight to Vietnam leaves at 9.30am I have to be at the airport about three hours early.  Since I’m travelling from my parent’s house, it’s a real early start.  Though thanks to my mum, I don’t have to make my own way to the airport. 

One upside to leaving so early is that it will stop me dithering about what to pack.  If I’ve forgotten it now, it will remain unpacked.  Tomorrow evening I’ll be in Ho Chi Minh City and hopefully enjoying some delicious Vietnamese food and not worrying about boring stuff from back home   The weather looks to be improving too, but I think I’ll get there in time to experience the very end of the monsoon season.