Advertisement
Published: February 26th 2006
Edit Blog Post
Chickens! Everywhere! And turkeys and ducks! The chics chase their mothers who are being chased by the cats, that are being chased by the dogs that get chased by the kids and their sticks and rocks and so it continues! They roam the streets, houses, restaurants and bars and the Roosters start their cock-a-doodle-bloody-doing at 4am and just keep on going setting off every dog in the neighbourhood!.....phew!
The other first impressions (other than the many birds) was that Laos is far more peaceful that Vietnam. No honking horns and rushing traffic. Lots of very relaxed and friendly people.
The electricians leave a lot to be desired in Laos! Wooden boxes hang down the walls with various switches and sockets nailed into it that spit sparks at you when you attempt to plug any thing in!
Vientiane
Our first view of the Mekong river. Richard was particularly excited as had always wanted to see it and have to agree it really is rather beautiful. Got some great pictures as the kids appear as the sun goes down to swim and play.
We stayed in Vientiane for 2 nights and wandered this small city by day
and ventures to the river for a large coo BeerLaos at night to watch the sun go down. Did we watch it come up? Don't be ridiculous nothing gets me up that early!
Vang Vieng
Took a bus to Vang Vieng in the afternoo and arrived just as the sun had gone down. Seeing the impressive scenery of huge rolling lush green mountains and jungle we were dissapointed to arrive in Vang Vieng and find what I can only describe on first view as a mini Las Vegas strip of glaring neon lights, Reggae music and a mixture of various different Friends episodes being played at full volume from the many bars that ran the length of the dusty street. We checked in to a lovely spacious room though and it was only $4. The Stupid Guide book gave the description of a "concrete souless place with absolutely no character or atmosphere"....not true at all. There was a gorgeous little puppy there (even Rich had to admit that it was cute) and children playing Badminton in the garden and a very friendly helpful guy on reception. Plus, we were on the top floor (only 2 storeys) and had a
great view of the sun slipping behind the mountains. The guide has reccommended places that have not existed for over a year so we don't always pay it much attention!
Odd menus in Vang Vieng with "special menu"pages added at the back offering "Happy mushroom pizza, happy tea" or if you can't be bothered to beat about the bush "bag of opium or bag of weed".......
We ventured out the next day to the see the waterfall and a cave. Found a small cave before entering the big one...I hit my head hard enough that my two incisor teeth penetrated my bottom lip, but luckily did not go through. I was rather dazed and Rich grabbed my arm and pulled me towards him. He's heard the crack of my head and I was feeling all confused until I realised my mouth was bleeding. Richard suggested maybe taking off the baseball cap so I could see what was above me......good idea thought I!
Waterfall was small but lovely and we bathed in the small pool at the bottom.
ENTER PICTURE OF WATERFALL PLACE.
The following day we hired a inner tube from a tractor tyre and
View from top of cave in Vang Vieng
And that is the river we tubed down! floated down the river for about 6 hours! It's calm in some places and then rapids in other places....you float along to the calls of the people sitting by the sides yelling "BEERLAOS! COLD BEERLAOS!". You put a hand up and they rope you in! At about 50p for a big bottle you can't complain...plus it's good! OOOO I wish I could have taken my camera! Will try and explain so you can pictutre.......
We could hear funky house music playng in the distance (Hed Kandi...v. cool) and screams of laughter and spashing...green trees and vines flank the edges of the water giving way to jungle and mountains....we round the corner to see a big bamboo structure over hanging the water with balconies with people drinking and dancing and a rip wire went out over the water that you could either swing on or ride down army style before letting go and crashing into the water. Has anyone seen that awful Kevin Costner film "Water World"?? It was like that. We stayed there for an hour just sipping (guzzling) our beer Laos and drying off inbetween goes on the wter swing.
Anyway enough waffle. Richard told me "no-one
Trekkingin Louang Prabang
View from top of the mountain wants to read about it Amber, they just want to see pictures". So, fine....shorter writing more pics coming up.
Louang Prabang
Out first trek! Didn't realise we'd be climbing a mountain in blazing heat but we managed it and I didn't have an asthma attack and roll back down the otherside so that was good! Spent most of my time dodging the very large spider webs and there equally large hosts. Spent the night in a minority village on the other side of the mountain in a wooden hut with lots of children watching you.....constantly....even in the wooden hut toilet with the hole in the ground...still watching!
Next day we walked to the waterfall.....I was not prepared for how beautifulk it was and no picture could do it justice. The water was aquamarine and so we just jumpred right on in!
Slow Boat down the Mekong and back to Thailand!
And of course, Amber and Richard are getting on a boat so lets rain!
Didn't last long and the grey skies soon gave way to bright blue again.
We shared our boat with a German couple and no-one else! They had paid $40 each and we'd
Trekking in Louang Prabang
Hanging with the local kids wangled it down to $25 each but didn't share that info with them of course.
Free rancid tea and coffee and fruit and bread for the two day journey but we brought our own sarnies anyway.
Saw people race past in there speed boats in their hard helmets, hulked down against the wind and spray and looking ridiculous. We'd been warned these things were v dangerous and I'm not surprised as there are rocks to navigate through all over the Mekong especially in dry season like it is now. Therefore, not surprised to turn a corner and see one upside down in the wtaer amoungst some rocks with a man in just a t-shirt and pants running it looking rather concerned. Hope everyone was OK!
Chiang Rai
Crossed the border and went into Chiang Rai in time for Valentines day....and Richard had food poisoning. Not very romantic. Poor sod, I'd had it the week before. I guess we'd done well to last until now with no problems.
Great Night Market in Chiang Rai and quiet a quiet little city.
Chiang Mai
Really liked it here (despite getting my second bout of food poisoning in 2 weeks!).
Trekking in Louang Prabang
The kids throw sticks at the berries, collect them and sell to the teacher who is reimbursed by the government. Very dangerous as most get hit by falling sticks! Stayed a week and got a diploma in Thai Massage! Thai massage involves a lot of stretching and pulling about so poor Richard got teh brunt of it but seems to enjoy it! I pulled just about every muscle I have from doing this for so many hours....you can probably see why in from the pictures. The doggy in the background is Ganie a lovely brown spotted Dalmation who liked to get in the way constantly.
Overnight train to Bangkok which is where we are now! On second visit we have agreed that we really like it now! Probably because we are staying next to Siam square and everything is shiny and futuristic and v. cool.
In response to Karen Wright's question "are you hippies yet?", no but Richard has started wearing on eof my headbands to keep the hair that he refuses to cut out of his face (please see the amusing picture I caught as he stood stratedically in front, and unawares, of a Armani shop in one of his model poses that he always stands in) and he told me I look like a beatnic in my gypsie skirt and scarf belt....but then I always
Trekking in Louang Prabang
The kids kept watch everywhere we went! wore those skirts so that doesn't count!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.296s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 12; qc: 60; dbt: 0.0568s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Kazza
non-member comment
Hippies
Loving the matching pj's