Choy oy!!!!

Choy oy, for all y'all who dont speak Vietnamese, means OMG! and that is how i feel tonight. (I also learned from a Florida Jew who was teaching me sayings, that you say it with the same tone you'd say "Oy vay" and since both are very amusing to say, I'll probably start using them interchangably. I'm in Hue this evening, a lovely historical town of emperors and buddists. Anyways, I need to backtrek a bit because so much time has passed since last time I got to chat at all of you.
Ha long bay is where we left off and as expectations go; i've been told by many that one shouldnt have them because then they're up for disappointment. Needless to say, this is the one of 2 places where I have expectations because the pics of Ha Long Bay made me fall in love with going to Vietnam and Hoi An, well I'm expecting some fierce seamstresses there.
Ha long bay, and there is a drum roll going on in my head, well it was FABULOUS! It was so incredibly stunning, peaceful and relaxing. The junks, which were basically well outfitted houseboats, didnt sway as they glided through the green water. We stopped in a cave, which was the biggest cave I've ever been in, kayaked around, and then I Jumped off the roof. I will say it was about 5 meters, which translates into like 20 feet give or take;). All of this, while you were on a quick schedule, still was very relaxing and the kayaking and laying on the deck chairs on the roof was very leisurely. Next day, I went to CAt Ba island in Ha Long Bay where they said a trek...and I'm thinking this is a tour and yesterday was easy, today will be the same. Well think, Climbing for example to Upper Yosemite Falls (Dad at least you will remember this and understand) in 105 degree humid weather without any stops and it's all uphill. I did it, and i have a pic of me smiling at the top, but I thought I would pass out....then because I didnt want to fall off the mountain and die without some sort of witness, went down with these adorable danish boys. And yay, I didnt die!!!
After that, I tried my first exotic delicacy, snake infused moonshine! It even comes out in this sophiticated little "schnopsy" glass. Next day, came back to Hanoi and took the overnight bed bus.....a guy told me that it would be strange and that is a VERY apt term for it. I have pics...which will do better then me describing but still think perhaps 30 beds and then think 50 people in the bus. I luckily had a bed, but then there were mainly Vietnamese lying on the floor between all the beds.
Anyways, I made it to Hue and was met at the bus with my first ever sign with only my name on it!!!! and for the first time in Vietnam a chauffered air conditioned luxury car that took me to my hotel...I am livin very large here;) I then had two very "interesting" experiences with hiring a motorbike for a couple of hours, which unfortunately turned into more than i thought as well as one of those seated in the front of a bike hire...i have to remind myself that when someone takes advantage of me, it's not for more then 5-10 dollars, which i dont sweat. I just get annoyed at being taken advantage of...but then i calm down and try again. Fortunatly, like the case of tonight for the motorbike i rented for tomorrow morning...I got a good deal, which I'm happy about and everything that I want to do is written on my ticket, which should take care of any weird additional prices while on the tour. See, I'm a quick learner!
After that, I'll take a short busride to Hoi An and hopefully meet up with the Danish guys again who have computers and headsets; so for those who i owe a call to, mainly mom and dad I will be calling hopefully tomorrow or the next day.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo