We're not in Oz anymore...

Our most recent trip took us outside of Australia to Southeast Asia. Specifically, we spent ten amazing days exploring the beautiful country of Vietnam. Starting in Hanoi we first worked our way northwest towards the Chinese Border to the farming village of Sapa and then back east to the resort town of Halong Bay. After spending an amazing night on a junk boat in Halong Bay, we flew south to the historic beach town of Hoi An where all of our shopping cravings were satisfied. Finally we flew to the city formally known as Saigon (currently Ho Chi Minh City) where we ventured down the Mekong River to experience the true tastes of Vietnam. All in all it was a spectacular trip that is best described with pictures. Unfortunately these pics aren't in any particular order, but hopefully you still enjoy them anyway.

We embark on a peacful boat ride through a back channel of canals in the upper Mekong River.

Our boat driver on one of the boat tours of the Mekong climbing back in after a quick swim. Not knowing what creatures were lurking in the murky waters, we opted to stay in the boat at all times.

Carey and Greg donning the local head gear.

A local boy getting some relief from the stifling heat (it hit 100 degrees farenheiht in the Mekong while we were there).

Our view into the jungles of Vietnam (Mekong region)

Greg looking excited to bite into his feshly caught "elephant ear fish". We don't think that's its official name, but it's what all the locals were calling it, apparently because it looks like an elephant's ear. Either that or actually was an elephant's ear.

Carey and Greg walking through a remote village in southern Vietnam. Our tour guide Jason took us to some pretty unique spots where we were the only non-Vietnamese for miles and miles.

Carey and Greg rubbing Buddha's belly for good luck. Jason told us that if you rub your head and his belly at the same time your wishes will come true, however we think he just wanted to see what silly things he could get us to do.

Two adorable local village girls enjoying the nice weather.

Jason even took us for a ferry ride with the local school children. Not a bad commute we must say.

Pick your lunch (we're not kidding).

Local village women selling fresh breads in the market.

Mekong River floating market boat where we enjoyed some fresh watermelon, scrumpcious!

Carey and Greg somewhere deep in the jungle in Southern Vietnam.

Greg taking a turn as captain in the open waters of the Upper Mekong River.

Greg making good use of a local "fish toilet," which consists of what you see plus a hole that leads directly to the water. Apparently the fish take care of everything else, if you know what we mean.

Ah, that's more like it. Greg warming up for his round of golf in Hoi An.

Local fisherman in Hoi An enjoying a nice day.

A local oil painter in Hoi An, from whom we bought two gorgeous paintings.

Greg getting a feel of the South China Sea.

Carey going for a bike ride in Hoi An.

Carey getting fit for a custom made pair of pants.

Carey getting fit for a custom made pair of shoes.
(there was quite a lot of this in Hoi An, which Carey think is Vietnemes for heaven)

Local fisherman in Halong Bay.

Carey and Greg enjoying some morning coffee on Halong Bay with a floating village in the background.
We could wake up like this everyday.

Greg attempting to manevour the kayak through a cave in Halong Bay. Let's just say it wasn't an easy task and we both almost got knocked in the head quite a few times.

Enjoying the scenery from the boat on a gorgeous evening in Halong Bay.

Greg going for a swim in Halong Bay. We were told there were no sharks in the water.

View of some junk boats from atop Teatop island in Halong Bay.

Greg standing at the border of Vietnam and China. That's China in the background!

Carey at the border with China.

Carey and Greg hiking to the top of a waterfall in Sapa.

Local farmer working the rice fields in Sapa.

Another local farmer working the rice fields in Sapa, with the assistance of a buffalo.

Carey and our Sapa tour guide Mo crossing the rickety bridge over "Mother River" in Sapa.

Greg and Mo's local friends opted for the newer bridge.

We just thought this picture was funny.

View of the stepped rice fields in Sapa. It truly was a stunning site.

Greg having fun with some local Sapa children.

Lunchtime at the Sapa market.

Local minority women sewing clothes at the market.

Local villager, Ping, with her baby. We were talking to Ping for a good 45 minutes before we even realized she had a baby with her, amazing!

Meat market in Sapa.

Freshly caught snake being killed. This was most likely some lucky family's dinner. Snake is actually the most expensive thing on most Vietnamese menus.

Carey boarding the overnight train from Sapa back to Hanoi.

Greg getting ready for bed on the train.

Two girls walking into their Hanoi school.

Local women in Hanoi taking a break on her walk from the farm to the city.

Buddhist monk studying.

Greg can't get away from KPMG, even on vacation in Vietnam!