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Luang Prabang
These waterfalls where so beutifull we went to see them twice. After Chiang mai it was on to chiang rai which was not very nice, it had a really depresing atmosphere and there was basically nothing whatsoever to do there. We were very proud we got public buses to chiang rai and we were damn happy to get a public bus out of there, where we went to chang kong. This is like the border, you get your passport stamped then you get in a funny looking speedboat, go across the river (takes all of 2 minutes) and poof, your in laos. The day we arrived it was so hot i thought i would die.....after 'clearing customs' (handing them 30 USD and gettin our passport stamped)we had to go an get the slowboat. This involved 6 hours the first day (sittin on a wooden floor going about 20 miles an hour with about 100 other people), then stopping off at pak beng overnight where they throw drugs in your face, and then try to ofer you a guesthouse. Seems they have their priorities right anyway........The second day on the speedboat was 8 hours and though it was long and uncomfortable, the scenery was absolutely amazing.
The we arrived in Luang Prabang
which is so french its unreal. Its a colony, and the people have to learn french in school the wy we have to learn irish, so i got to have a few real converstions with people. The nicest bar there was called the hive and it was really cool (again, the pictures) but everywhere in luang prabang stops serving and closes at 10. Everywhere, that is, except the vietnam bar.......thiis is literally a shack with tables and chairs that sellsonly whiskey and vodka by the bottle. 4 euro for a litre of whiiskey......imagine the hangover. Even the food in Luang Prabang was very french, and the people there were nice too. They have loads of cafes that you can watch dvds in at night, and once again the food here is delicious (i will nevere be able to eat the food in ireland again!!!)i think ill probly come home about 2 stone heavier.....................we spent 2 days at the waterfalls (pictures) which was absolutely amazing and then we decided it was time to move on.
So it was onwards to Vang Vieng.we went tubing, where they give you a bi rubber ring, float you off down the river and then
theres all these little bars along the river where the owners pull you in with big sticks along the way. So you get out of your tube and get stuck into the beer lao and they have huge jumps you can do. I am proud to say i did 3 out of 4 of them, though not because im brave, jut drunk(shelley)............Vang Vieng is basically a dirty town under what seems to be constant construction, all the strees are lined with bars that show Friends and simpson all day which is nice after a hard night out.All the bars close early unless you dont want them two.Once you keep drinking they will stay open.They will even fall asleep around you and you just let them now when you want another roud.We felt a bit bad doing this but all the locals said it was normal (I cant remember what normal is antmore haha).From Vang Vein we had to move on because we where running out of money and theres no ATM here we got the bus to vientien which took bout 5 hours.Vientien being the capital was a really nice clean city and it wasnt to busy.We sampled some of
the clubs and saw a few different sights.Mark and Clodagh had to leave for Bangkok because clodagh got really sick for a while and theres no proper hospital here.After a bit over a week we decided to head south for a cruse down the mekong but unfortunatley we missed the boat so one day we decided to head to Hanoi and the next we where there.
It all happened pretty quick and we where never expecting to be here.Im really glad we came here though I think we both got more of a culture shock arriving in Hanoi than we did arriving for the first time in Bangkok.The streets are packed with motorbikes and constant beeping theres people cooking pigs legs on the streets while old men with long wispey beards are smoking giant tabacco pipes beside them.Despite the madness and the noise its seems to be quite clean and friendly.I love just walking down the road theres always something interesting to see and crossing the road is just mad.Theres no real pedestrian lights you just have to walk right in to the traffic make eye contact with the drivers and hope they dont hit you...........We love it
Thai Laos Boarder
Welcome to Indo china 40 degree heat big bag on our back 6 hours on a boat with some lovely hang overs . Anyway thats it for now and hope to see everyone soon. If you want to know anythin about hotels and the like do let me know.................i miss everyone sooooooooooooo bad!!!!!!!!!!xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxPhil and Shelley (Please leave comments and let us now what you think)
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Rob
non-member comment
Photos look great
The Photos are like somewhere you would see in a film or dream. Are you sure they are real. Keep em coming + have a ball (a big blow up beach sort) cya R.