Mugger on a moped

Our first (and last) free day on the Exodus trip but most of us opted to be taken to the Chu Chi tunnels a few kilometres outside Saigon where the locals hid from the Americans in underground tunnels during the Vietnam war. I know they're a small-bodied race but I can't believe that anyone can and would fit into some of the tunnels that they built.

I was feeling a bit hungover after a late night and too much wine, cocktails and beer so didn't really feel like shoving myself down a hot, cramped hole. I opted out of the first one where you had to squeeze yourself into the tiniest gap in the ground. Some were worried that their chest, behind or broad shoulders might not fit but everyone who attempted it managed to mould themselves through the space. I did brave the shortest tunnel of 15 metres that had been widened a bit for tourists and that was bad enough, even though I'm not claustrophobic particularly. Amazing what the locals did to outfox the Yanks. The booby traps they set and lengths they went to to disguise the tunnels.

I also opted out of firing an AK47 at the firing range on site. To be honest I found it in rather bad taste, particularly when I then visited the war museum in Saigon this morning. I'm sure it appeals to the Americans and some of the others had a go but I'm not exactly keen on firing a gun in the first place and in such a setting it seemed all the more wrong to me. Just a personal thing.

The rest of the day seemed to fly by doing not very much in particular apart from a spot of lunch and wandering around the city a bit.

We headed out for our final group meal and last night together later that evening. Had a very nice meal at a prettily-set restaurant and said thanks to our fantastic tour guides. Wassan has been with us for the whole trip and had looked after us every step of the way and making us laugh with his little jokes. Then we've also had a local guide in each country. They printed out some photos of each of us that they'd taken on the trip which we get to keep as a memento. So sweet!

We then headed to a bar. On the way, as we were crossing the road a guy on a moped whizzed past and grabbed the little purse I'd slung over my shoulder that I'd bought in a shop in Cambodia. It was a flimsy little thing so probably a bit stupid to be using in the city but the strap snapped instantly and off he sped down the road with me shouting in hot pursuit. All happened very quickly but luckily because my camera and iPhone were in there it was quite heavy and dropped to the floor. I managed to pick it up as he disappeared, I think he was probably just as shocked as I was!

So no harm done on that front and probably a good thing to get a bit of a wake up call about being more careful. I went to the market today to get a knock off Kipling bag that's a bit more sturdy. No one, I tell you no one is going to wrestle my iPhone off me! My lifeline...

It's been really sad to say goodbye to most of the gang now the trip has ended. It feels like we've spent months together already, so intense as it is but it's been brilliant. I shall really miss everyone once I'm on my tod again after the weekend. A few people are staying behind tonight so we're hopefully meeting up later. And I'll see some of them further along on my trip: Linda, Ann and Rachel in Hong Kong and Ruth and Andrew in New Zealand. I'll really miss Natalie as we bonded instantly at the airport and have been having a good laugh taking the piss out of each other ever since. Emails and Facebook will have to suffice for now but I hope to meet up with the London crowd on my return.