What have I been doing while taking so long to tell you my Irish story? Well, it hasn’t all been plain sailing, there have been many ups and downs along the way, but here is a little run down of some highlights of the last seven months.

Alongside striving to improve the website you are currently reading, and to share more regularly with you, I have been working to create an online teaching presence to allow me to move on in July, to explore new countries and new experiences. My mum and step-dad, Ian, recently came to visit, and as I wanted to be able to show them some places around Vietnam this was the perfect chance to test teaching on the move. A little more consideration had to be taken on accommodation as I needed to ensure there was a place I could set up a background, create good lighting and have a chair and desk to work at, but once this was sorted everything was a go!

I’ve spent most of the past seven months in Hanoi. With my mind focused on working and saving there has been little opportunity for escape, but the few chances I have had have been thoroughly enjoyed.

I took a mini break to Chiang Mai, where I was delighted to find a choice of vegan places to eat, quieter streets and blue skies. I’d booked into Counting Sheep hostel which, at about 9 USD/£8 a night was slightly more expensive than many others in town. It was laid-back, didn’t attract the party scene and had a wonderfully large comfy seating area, and so in my book was definitely worth paying that little extra. It was within walking distance of anywhere I may have wanted to go, though honestly, that was nowhere in particular.

The old city, where I was staying, is a square marked by walls which were originally built as fortifications to defend themselves against the Burmese. Now, it marks an area which is more relaxed, has less traffic passing through, and was perfect for a couple of days wandering with an aim of good food and little noise. There was a brief spell when I stepped outside the walls, made my way to the river, saw a wonderful sunset and the bustling Chinatown and markets. My feet led me to the night market which, after some time jogged my memory enough to realise I’d been there four years earlier.

My second escape was about two days after my return from Chiang Mai. Tet holiday (lunar new year), is the biggest holiday in Vietnam and so was the perfect time to leave the city. Me and my partner Josh went on a road trip to Ninh Binh, the nearby national park Cuc Phuong, and then on to Cat Ba Island. We rode on one moped, me carrying my backpack full of both our belongings, Josh driving us and all our luggage. With much more driving than originally planned our bodies took a bit of a beating, our souls, however were wonderfully refreshed.

In Ninh Binh we stayed at a homestay on the edge of the town, underneath some of the limestone karsts which lay scattered across the landscape. Away from much (though not all) of the noise – it’s amazing how far those karaoke sounds can travel across sparse terrain!

On the first evening we ran out of fuel as we began our search for food and were absolutely delighted to see a sign for gas right in front of us as the bike jerked to a halt. We took a boat ride through Trang An caves, a wonderful experience except for the close confines of the boat making me long to jump into the water and stretch my legs. We rode out to Cuc Phuong National Park, discovered it was much more a tourist hotspot than we’d hoped with only a handful of marked out tracks for walking, and very little chance to escape the other hordes of visitors. Finally, we spent a long day driving up to Cat Ba Island. There, enjoying a few of the beaches on offer, discovering good food and many pina coladas. It was great to have nothing to do and nowhere to be but right there, enjoying our moment.

I didn’t escape the city again until the beginning of this month, when my mum and Ian came to visit (blog post for those adventures coming soon!).

Now there is just over one month left in Hanoi, and in Vietnam.

Join me soon as I head first to Sri Lanka for a month of exploration and relaxation, and then on to Georgia, where we have plans to settle for around a year. As a person who lives for change, I can’t wait for all that lies ahead! The challenge now is to appreciate what is left of my time in Vietnam, not just to count down the days until I leave.