Wednesday 26 August

On re-reading yesterday's post I realised there was not much atmosphere so hopefully this gives a better taste.

The streets are alive with hustle and bustle. Everyone is so close on some of them that you can almost read the clothes size label. If the pavement is good than an assortment of scooters, mopeds and motor cycles are parked on them 2 abreast. If the pavement is broken then you have to walk on the road, either way you literally take your life into your own hands each time you venture out.

As we walked, sorry zig-zagged, up the street to the shopping centre we passed many and I do mean many, street vendors crouched on the ground selling their wares: fruit, cold drinks, local delicacies, teas, we even smelt someone barbecuing under a canvas shelter.

As it was lunchtime people, mainly men, were sitting or crouching on the street corners playing backgammon and Chinese chequers. We walked for approximately 1km and in that short distance we encountered typical Hanoi City life.

Today

Today dawned very early for all of us I think, I had to go swimming just to try and keep my mind off today. I'd finished by 7.30 though and the bus wasn't collecting us until 10.30!

Finally 10.30 arrived, our guides and 2 buses arrived. We left bang on time. The buses made their way out of Hanoi city, negotiating this was a feat alone. Many sharp intakes of breath later from the passengers and we turned onto the main road to China. Lang Son is 18km from the Chinese border and our journey would take around 3 hours.

As we moved out of Hanoi we passed over 2 working rivers, some of the barges/boats were so laden down it looked as if the sides were just breaking the surface. The land was flat but luscious. There was quite a lot of building going on both residential and industrial. I hope that they don't do overkill here. Many of the homes were 3 story French colonial style buildings. All painted and quite ornate. We moved through Bac Ninh city and then the buildings began to thin out, more and more land was visible. The minute we passed the sign "Welcome to Lang Son" at the beginning of Lang Son province we started to rise - gorges and mountains appeared. For those of you familiar with the Lord of the Rings trilogy the landscape made us all think of these. Caverns, caves and millions of years of rock face. It was all still very green but a different green. The vegetation was now trees, very tall trees, up the side of mountains and down in valleys with the occasional red bush for colour. Houses became single story with the date of construction stamped on them and some became wooden shacks.

As we neared Lang Son town our anxiety levels were rising, we counted off the kilometre markers silently.

Finally we arrived at the orphanage, it is almost in the centre of the town. We got out of the buses - even the heat was different here, hot yes, very hot but little humidity.

What happened inside is going to remain private as it it not just our story to tell. Suffice it to say we all fell in love and didn't want to leave.

Our journey home through the water buffalo, some au naturel and some swathed in mud (an amazing site - just like a wild life documentary) was an emotional relief. So much so that, sorry to disappoint the foodies amongst you, but we've just had room service - burger and fries. I'm having a glass of red wine and writing this and Dennis is downloading our pictures.

We will post some once all the legalities are settled, so please bear with us.

The good news is our second visit is tomorrow!