another day another country!!!

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We flew from Hanoi to Vientiane - Laos on the 16th. We'd struggled to find a hostel to book online, so we opted for an ecolodge about 30km outside, and crossed our fingers that it would be ok.....we were not disappointed!!!! After a very bumpy taxi ride from the airport (roads are not very even here!!!) wew arrived in what I can only describe as a little slice of paradise!!! A beautiful resort right on the river Nam Ngum. We were shown to our room, and when the receptionist was far enough away, we started ourown little victory dance!!!! The place was amazing...a wooden lodge with a balcony overlooking the river, just a 2 minute walk from our own floating restaurant!!! We went and had some dinner, seafood soup (yes I'm predictable!!) We also learnt our first Laos word - Sabaidee!! It means, 'good meeting' and is used for everything - hello, goodbye, morning, good night etc. We also learnt Kop Jai Le Lai, which means thank you!!! So we're virtually fluent!! We met a couple of English girls from Maidenhead, who were really cool, and spent the day with them on Monday - There were only 5 people at the resort. We got up close and personal with some of the wild life, huge spiders about 4 inches across, our guide said they were harmless, we just had to nice to them!!! Spent the next day with Cat and Laura in town, sightseeing in the morning, and made our way to a riverside bar in the evening, to catch the sun set which was beautiful. Went for a few drinks...lots of cocktails, and had ar eally good laugh!! Me and Laura were playing badminton in the street at one point which the locals thought was hilarious!!! Tried to fet a ride back to the resort, but most tuk tuk drivers refused as it was so far out!!! One of them eventually took pity on us, but the ride back was painful....there is no suspension on a tuk tuk!!! Next morning we left for Vang vieng, a small city north of Vientiane. Met some Irish guys, and ended going out with them for the evening....very messy!!! Went to a place caled the 'Bucket Bar' buckets of very strong vodka and local red bull, which is a bit cheeky!! Some very drunk people there, including us!!! We left earlie than Cat and Laura, but ended up getting lost on the way home, just like a normal night in Cheltenham.....me getting lost and Jess walking home without any shoes!!!! Not the best preparation for our tubing adventure the next day!!!! Got to go now, to catch bus to Luang Prabang, so will continue this later

much love to you all

Don don x x x

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