Laos

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

After a long 6 - 7 hr drive from Chang Mai we entered the border of Thailand, Chang Kong. I hadn't been feeling all that good and got time to relax after we had completed our Visa forms in this restaurant we had been taken to. Only i could decide that a good time to be sick ws just as i had my back pack on about to enter the water to get on te boat to cross the border to immigration! (not to mention the fact that i had a crowd of about 50 people and the locals on the beach playing football!)

Anyway, that said we were now in Huay Xai and after a talk about catching the boat the next morning and found a guesthouse to stay in. Thank goodness it was nice with our own bathroom...was definately time to get some shut eye and make myself better for the 12 hr boat trip.

It sounds a long time but i spent it sleeping, reading and listening to my Ipod. Tunes such as Chasing cars, Bitter sweet symphony were a great soundtrack to listen to as we crusied along the Mekong.

As soon as we got there (Luang Prabang)we were greeted by the steepest steps ever, that overcome we chilled out in a little french influenced barand tried to decide on a place to stay in for the night. Laziness crept in and after looking at the place next door, the Sok dee, we stayed there.

Dinner was in a lovely french restaurant but unfortunately my stomach was too delicate to take it so i ate some bread and drank the water while the others tucked into Spaghetti Bolognaise, steak and a burger! Whoever saaid you will get skinny in SE Asia is lying, esp in Laos where baguettes are everywhere!!!

Early to bed, early to rise and after a breakfast of a warm baguette, scrambled egg, bacon, ham and cheese and a cup of tea we hired bikes for the day. From midday till 5 we rode around, checking out local life, schools, universities, even the airport. The views were stunning and the atmosphere was buzzing!

After freshening up we decided to search out the nightlife. There is one street we had heard about where all the action was and one particular bar...the Hive bar. 2 for 1 on cocktails led me to my fav, a Mojito!! Beer lao soon followed. We have been travlling with a group of about 10 people who all seem to be doing the same route so we keep bumping into them all. Several Australians, some guys from Leeds and a girl from Ireland. We all ended up in a late night place called Vietnam Bar, all very dodgy and to be honest smelt of wee! Ho hum, beggers can't be choosers and with a whole bottle of Beer to drink i wasn't complaining.

The late night didn't make our 8.15 start to catch the bus to Vang Vieng enjoyable! The mini bus was interesting to say the least, there was cracks in the windscreen and Emily had to sit on the arm rest between me and Lucy...not nice, so we shuffled about.

So here I am, my first night in Vang Vieng. It is kind of like the Ko san Road on a smaller scale. We are staying in a lovely guesthouse, wit breath taking views on the balconies! It is true what they say though, Friends re-runs are being played in all the bars, some of you know that will make me happy!

Plan on going tubing tomorrow...that is where you get on a tyre type ring and go down the river stopping in bars along the way. Don't worry, won't be drinking a lot. Will fill you in about that later