day 254, Hanoi

With only 48kms to go to Hanoi, I was looking forward to getting back, doing some washing, sorting out my passport and getting moving again. Woke up before my alarm and listened to some music waiting for Michael to rouse. Once achieved packed up and on our way. It was a bloody miserable ride, the roads were shit and the traffic aggressive and plentiful. The buses in particular were complete cunts. Two hours later and after being driven off the road numerous times we reach the city out limits and I’m happy to be back, my mind is on getting a western fix for lunch, then I notice Michael has another bloody puncture, so we stop off at a mechanics and watch the mechanics granddad set to work. He was slowed by age but did a cracking job as it was a tricky bugger and half hour later we were on our way. Checked into the hostel and straight off looking for food, end up back a place we’ve been to before for a four course meal and it was marvellous. Back to the hostel to chill out, get some clothes washed, my visa takes 4 working days (it’s saturday), grr, start watching robin hood, leave an hour in to get food then set about drinking for Michael’s birthday. At beer corner joined by Grace, Barney and Raphael, some white kids living out here for a bit promoting the bars, have a chat and a few beers and got to another hostel down the road for a couple more. Not many people around though head off to a club, get battered and have an average night and stumble home.