The Secret Garden

This weekend, we've had the place to ourselves.  I wish I could say we've run amok, but we really haven't.  Yesterday was David's birthday so we biked to a nearby lake where we had a picnic.  Otherwise we spent much of the day lazing about.  But when we're at a property like this, lazing about takes on a whole new meaning.  Could think of worst ways to mark 25 years.

 - Hana

Wuthering Heights

Just a wee note for those who have persisted with checking this; we are still alive.
We are currently in southern Scotland staying with a very lovely couple and their 11-year-old daughter.  We've jacked up this deal through a website where we stay here for free and get fed, in exchange for our labour.  We've been here a few days and it's working out great.  They live in this massive estate house which they rent out to holiday makers, as well as hosting weddings at it.  We're just helping them maintain the property and the jobs vary greatly from day to day.  A bit strange getting back into 'work', but kind of nice to feel a bit more settled, at least momentarily.
I will try and write more when I'm feeling a little more inspired - this working business is taking it out of us.  We're knackered come the end of the day.

Mother Tongue

We've made it to the motherland.  It's sure pulled out all the stops; clear blue sky with some of the warmest days it's had this year.  I must admit, I was kind of looking forward to the cool British weather after spending the last five weeks wiping sweat from my brow every five minutes, but I know the rain's to come and in the meantime I will take as much of a British summer as I can.

We were greeted by Courtney at the gates of Heathrow.  So lovely to see a familiar face at the end of a very long day of travel.  She promptly whisked us away to her little corner of the world - and what a world it is.  Rolling green paddocks, thatched roofed homes, flower planters under windowsills, and pubs on every corner.  We've spent the past two days living the country dream.  And after five weeks of noodles I must admit the pub food has come as an exciting and welcome relief.

Yesterday we went into Cambridge, which was a stunning place.  Seriously old buildings down cobbled pathways, bordered by a meandering river.

It's looking like we might be heading to Scotland next, but not before a couple of days of just sitting still.

- Hana

The Pillars of the Earth

A little update from two very exhausted travellers.  It's been a crazy past week where we've been on the move pretty much all the time.  And of course, have seen and done some incredible things.  I'll let this little selection of the photos do most of the talking.

The amazing Hoi An - probably my favourite place in Vietnam.  Little streets full of these old yellow buildings that have been kept pretty much as they have always been.

Women work on the rice fields outside Hoi An.  A very common (and slightly cliche) scene reproduced all around the countryside.

A beach near Hoi An.  Crystal clear warm water - and all to ourselves.

We've tried to catch a few sunsets around the place, but there usually isn't one.  For once, we got this one in Hoi An.

We've covered a lot of ground in the past week, sometimes only spending an afternoon in a place before getting on the bus again.  This was an afternoon stopover in Hue.  We rented bikes and cycled around - looks romantic, but the sweat pouring off us was anything but.

An amazing climb up a limestone formation in Ninh Binh, passing by a series of pagodas all the way up.  See above about sweat.

The view from the top.

Another limestone formation we thought would be fun to climb in the midday heat.  500 steps later, it was all worth it.

Photos don't do this place justice.  It's Lan Ha bay off Cat Ba island where we've spent the past couple of days.  David managed to convince me to skip Halong Bay and go to the nearby Cat Ba island instead.  Best decision ever.

We spent a day kayaking around the massive limestone formations.  Hard to capture the magic of the day in photos.  I think David's smile says it all.

The most magical moment we had on the kayaks.  We passed under a small archway which then opened up to a calm, aqua blue water lagoon (again, very hard to capture the moment in photos).
That night we slept on a boat in the bay.  We were imagining sleeping under the stars, but a huge electrical storm put an end to that.  Initial disappointment quickly turned to joy as we stood on the top deck and watched lightening bolts dash over the entire sky.

 And now we're in Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, before flying out to London tomorrow morning.  It's a very mixed bag of emotions.  Our South East Asia trip has been incredible, and we're now planning our next one, with hopefully more time.  Bring it on.

- Hana