Heaven is a place on earth...i've found it!

Hey all,

So last time I posted i was telling you all i was planning to go tubing. Well i didn't go once, not even twice, i loved it so much i went a three times!

Vang Vieng was the most chilled out place on earth. This may have something to do with the abundance of weed available in all sorts of forms...Happy shakes, happy pizza or just you good ol' joint! If that isn't hardcore enough however you could always try a musroom tea or even opium! You have to watch out though as we saw a couple get pulled over whilst tubing by guys on a boat who first showed them ID and then the handcuffs came out. Heard many a story of $100 bribes going on with the police.

So tubing...what can be better than floating down the river in a rubber ring, stopping off occassionaly at a bar with zip lines and rope swings to play on??? Aptly enough as i left one of the bars, Belinda Carlise, 'heaven is a place on earth' boomed out as i lay back on my tube and soaked up the afternoon sunshine. I tried out most of the swings and lines, the largest one being a real hair raising experience as you first have to climb up a vertical bamboo ladder 30 feet into the air and basically hang on for dear life from the launch pad area as you swing with the river below. Needless to say a tina bean scream was let out for the crowd to hear. Saw some pretty awsome sumersaults...of course i went for the more pendulum swing approach!

When i wasn't tubing there wasn't too much to do apart frop eat from one of the many cafes and restaurants. Most of these play Friends, the simpsons or family guy and you can lay around a low table in a bamboo sectioned booth whilst you wait for you food...the perfect stoners paradise. I did hire a bike one day and took a look around the local area. There was such a difference in types of housing. Some was no more than a wooden shack whilst some were bricks and mortor mansions! I went of the main roadway and saw women and children at work on the land...back breaking work in such humid conditions.

So after 5 days we headed onto Vientiene, the capital of Loas. We fell on our feet with the most amazing hotel,(the Riverside) silk pillows, beautiful fresh decor (it was just opened)and the bathroom was to die for. Oh and did i mention our breakfast ws included in the price...joy! Our 1st night we chilled out in the room with a couple of bottles of white and some home comfort foods.

We visited the Pha That Luang, a stupa and is the most important national monument in Laos. It was quite a spectacular sight, large and gold! Surrounding it were several wats, some yet to be built or being reconstructed. A local artist was displaying his work in an exhibition around the walls of the stupa, some of the pieces were amazing and would have been great to have got one if it wasn't for the shipping costs! We attempted to watch the sunset when we got back but it was very cloudy...my choco ice (v.cold chocolate milkshake) more than made up for it however!

The evening was slightly drunken, starting with a Mexican meal (really embrasing the Laos cusine, can't you tell!)and my first couple of glasses of red in a month. Was starting to get withdrawals!!! We asked to be taken to a late night bar just after 11 and were taken right out of town to a hotel club called Lunar 36. Wasn't too bad as we were on the roof terrace, complete with Christmas tree. One problem, it shut at midnight! We then went onto another hotel bar that a couple of guys told us about that served us until 4am.

Wednesday we headed to the national museum only to find it closed, so we took a wander around the town. Improvements are going on all the time. Some of the city, like its town square is beautiful other parts are very dirty and run down...just like London really! Health and safety just doesn't exist here and the pick axe just lying on the pavement not being used was a paticular highlight! Most streets are filled with internet cafes, cafes and restaurants, guest houses and retail shops. Overall though Vientienne is very sleepy.

We sat and watched the sunset, this time it was really visable and a perfect end to our few days in the capital. To top it off we treated ourself and had an italian meal. As you all know i am rather partial to a Carbonara so i was well chuffed. The girls all had a desert too which were fantastic. An early night was needed as we had to be up at 4 to catch a plane at 7am to Hanoi, Vietnam!

Lots of love to all and take care xx