I think were going to need a bigger boat???

Hello All.

Well we made it!!! We are in Laos, but what a journey. A word of advise to anyone travelling from Pai to Laos, even if the company tells you they dont go to Chaing Mai along the way they WILL. Wasnt the greatest of starts to a 3 days journey but we survived the curves. We turned up at an over night accomodation at around 3.5hrs sleep before we had to cross the border into Laos, the room was for free so as expected it didnt have windows and was FREEZING. Getting into the country was actually a doddle, your passport is taken off you for around an hour but other then that its pretty simple.

We decided to take the slow boat into Laos even though all the stories etc. But in all fairness I reckon we got really lucky. There was plenty of room on the boat, it was very narrow but still enough room to move around. I did have my first sight of cooked dog though, some Laos guys were eating into dog and rice at the back of the boat, it just reminded me of peep show! The ride down was very scenic and we kept passing seperate villages along the way. We had to stop over in a village called Pak Beng, which simply survived by people crossing into Laos. As soon as the boat pulled up all children jumped on our boat trying to offer us rooms or drugs. It was a crazy scene as once you do get off the boat your surrounded by people offering you rooms. The best way to get through it to just say you have a room and then find your own. Another early morning start and we back on a boat, not the same one mind you, this was the final stretch to Luang Prabang. When we arrived it was similar to Pak Beng with everyone offering you a room. But we stumbled across a really welcoming guesthouse. Mama, as she likes to be called, welcomes you with a big hug and a cup of tea/coffee and all the bananas you can eat. When "pupa" arrives he tends to pressure you into helping with his Laos whiskey. We were treated so well at this guest house, they by everyone cake everyday and dont expect any money until its time to leave.

Luang Prabang is very chilled out, not in the same way as Pai as people actually work here, but its relaxed. They have a massive night market here which stretches along past the museum and wat's, no one pressures you into buying anything they just leave you to get on with and the occasional sabadii (hello). We are getting our heads around another new language now, as well as the currency, its all in 100 thousands so sounds like your spending alot but your really not.

On our first day here we did the usual and looked around the wats and sims and museums etc. The second day we decided to rent bikes and see a waterfall. You had to quickly adjust to the fact they ride on the other side of the road due to the french! The waterfall was only 17km away but that journey was up hill in the midday sun and our bikes had no gears and a fruity basket on the front. It took us around 2hrs to cycle there, but when we arrived I dived straight in the waterfall, it was just what I needed. I was quite happy paddling about until I nearly got run down by an elephant walking through!!! The waterfall was amazing as it came down the hills through the trees into multiply pools.

The following day we went on a treck with an english couple we have met out here, Mark and Saffron. When I say treck there wasnt actually much trecking but a whole load of Kayaking!!. We Kayaked for around 2hrs till we got to a village, then we had an 1hr ride on and elephant, then we kayaked again to a cave of buddahs and finally kayaked to whiskey village!! The buddah cave was interesting but YOU NEED A TORCH, our guide had one but wasnt very bright and we didnt see many buddas as we were concentrating on not falling over. The whiskey village was VERY interesting as you can have all the whiskey you want for free. So we did take advantage of this and then washed it down with a cold Laos Beer.

So all in all we had a very hard work out in Luang Prabang, but it was a nice introduction to Laos. Our next destination is Vang Vieng, which is renound for tubbing drinks and "happy shakes". So no doubt a bit of a crazy place to be. I will keep you posted.

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