Am finally packed! Has taken me the longest time to actually get round to packing today. I went into the Old Quarter when I got up to get a bunch of stuff and ended up meeting Alison at Puku for some eggs benedict whilst waiting to find out if Calder had made it to Thailand safely. I thought my attempts to get a Chinese visa were tedious but it's even worse for Calder. He had to get a new visa for Vietnam as he didn't have enough time left on his current one accordng to the Chinese embassy. It's not as simple as just getting the visa sorted here in Hanoi - instead he had to fly to Bangkok this morning and then fly back this afternoon with a letter of invitation to get a Vina visa. All this was arranged over the course of yesterday and Thursday and at about 6pm yesterday Alison finally got all the paperwork needed after a lot of stress.

We ended up spending quite a bit of time in Puku gossiping and waiting to hear that Calder had arrived safely then I set off to get the various things I needed. The big thing I was after was some US currency but again, this is Vietnam so I couldn't just go to the bank and change money. Had to go to some gold shop instead and change it on the black market and I got ushered out of plain view to count out the dollars, just in case anyone of a suspicious nature was watching the shop. Managed to get $300 at a little higher than the official exchange rate but at least now I know I've got some instant cash if the ATMs in China have a hissy fit and don't accept my card. Didn't really get up to much else in town as I'd left my list of Stuff To Do at home. The only vital thing was the dollars so once I had them I went for a browse in some shops and got myself a new coat. Prolly shouldn't have, but it was so lovely I couldn't resist. Plus I got a lucky red envelope with it with a 50,000 dong gift voucher and some stamps on my loyalty card so technically I gained something from it! The streets were pretty mental too which made me pretty impatient so I just did what I had to then came home. Regret not taking my camera out with me as everyone is busy preparing for Tet. For most people this involves strapping a big kumquat or peach blossom tree to the back of their motorbike and riding through the traffic like a maniac. Quite a sight to see!

Came home and faffed around a ridiculous amount this afternoon, and caught up with some people online then realised it was 7pm and I'd not really achieved anything. SLightly crazed attempt at packing unvolved slinging some clothes onto my bed and getting together various stuff then throwing it into my backpack. At least this holiday I'm only gone for 2 weeks, and I'm only dealing with one type of weather - freezing cold - so it wasn't as convoluted as packing for the last trip I took. I figured as long as I have lots of jumpers and warm tights I'll be fine! Went to meet Calder and Alison after that - despite not really having finished my packing, and having a whole heap of other things to do - but as Calder had managed to complete the most difficult part of the trip (successfully getting a visa put into his passport upon arrival in Vietnam) I decided to join them at Derrys to celebrate. Did manage to paint my nails whilst I was there so crossed one more thing off my list. A quick drink turned into several and a good gossip, and I ended up leaving gone midnight. oops! I THINK I'm all sorted now but I have a feeling I've forgotten something vital. I guess I'll find out when I get there tomotrrow! Taxi is coming at 7am tomorrow (ugh) as Calder encountered a lot of traffic on his way to the airport today, presumably due to Tet preparations so I'm off bright and early to the lamest excuse for an internation airport ever to make sure I catch my flight. This means I'll get at most 4 hours of sleep tonight so am hoping to sleep on the flight tomorrow. Fingers crossed no clueless retards with no idea about how to fly are sitting next to me.

Chuc mung nam moi!!