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Published: December 23rd 2007
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Giving alms to monks
Luang Prabang, early in the morning Bet you are all excited for Christmas!!! Hope all the Xmas pressies have been bought and the boozing is already is full-swing.
Arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam last night after a 12 hr drive along the Ho Chi Minh trail, and a nightmare of a border crossing. We were stranded in no-mans land between the Laos and Vietnam border for hours coz one of the women on the tour visa had expired the day before. She had no excuse, she's a grown woman in her 50s. Ended up that she had to travel back to Vientienne where we'd been 2 days before to get a new one coz they dont issue them at the border. To be honest tho, she's been driving evryone mad, an unfortunately v stereotypical American who complained about EVERYTHING, not understanding that standards are a little different to US (v embaressing at times) so its not much of a loss to leave her behind. They seem to be dropping like flies at the mo on our trip though! We also had to leave another woman (38) behind in Vientienne coz after days of not being able to walk it turned out she'd torn a ligament in her
Mountain scenery of Laos
Stunning scenery and backdrops knee while dancing at the club in Luang Prabang. Amber IS gonna be missed coz she's awesome, but we'll stay in touch coz she's in London. She flew home yesterday from Vientienne. Pity, coz it was the start of a 4 month trip, that she'd taken time off work for. She's in plaster now for 6 weeks.
Laos was a v v special place. We spent the first few days sailing down the Mekong in a slow-boat, surrounded my mountains. It was beautiful. Sitting on the bow of the boat with a Beerlao, watching all the passing scenery and tribal villages go past - so cilled out! The mornins were cold, but v atmospheric, with clouds and mist still trapped in the valleys between the mountains, with us sailing through.
We arrived in Luang Prabang, a great little town filled with bakeries (that would be the French influence!) and monks, who come to study there as its much cheaper. Mostly spent those days drinking lots of beer at sunsets (beer is cheaper than soft drinks here - wahooo!) and eating a lot of damn good food! We went on a few day trips checking out the local villages that were
devoted entirely to one handicraft- paper, cloth, Lao-Lao (whiskey) and metal. And a trip to a waterfall where of course i had to take a dip - it was the most fantastic blue i've ever seen, a result of the limestone. Our final morning we got up at 5:30am to 'give alms' to th monks. They walk down the streets with their bowls and u give them food, making sure not to make eyecontact or touch their bowl. Its important to do coz they can only eat what they are given, they dont get fed at the temples, part of their teachings. It was really cool, and i got some excellent pics. It was then on to Viene Viang - imagine Vegas on a v v small scale! One strip of bars surrounded by mountains and brownfields. Here i actually hopped on a bike (oh god!) and cycled 14km to a blue lagoon. Sooo hot and sweaty, but well-worth it! The views were awesome. Then it was on to Vietienne, the capital for a few days, and our final sunset beer next to the Mekong.
Vietnam is a bit of a shock, much more built up than i expected.
Typical hilltribe village
Fishing boats made out of the shell-casings of bombs dropped in the Vietnam war But then its the fastest growing economy in SE Asia apparently so to be expected i guess. We travelled for 12 hrs along the Hoh Chi Minh trail yesterday after crossing the border, the start of which was absolutely spectacular. Hundreds of brilliant-green valleys lying below us as we travelled along a v narrow strip around a mountain. Hanoi is mental! V v busy and bustling. Off to see Ho Chi Minh's embalmed body this afternoon and wanna check out the Viet War museum 2moz. Seeing the water puppet performance tonight, and our final group meal. Rob and i have just booked trips to Halong Bay (thanks for putting the idea in my head Ben of spending Xmas by the beach - jealous?!), staying on Cat Ba island, where we'll be for Xmas. We're gonna try to meet up with 2 people from our trip there too. We're there til 28th then transfer back to Hanoi where we catch a sleeper train to Sapa in the north where we'll stay in the mountains for NY visting hill tribes etc, until we catch train back to Hanoi on 3rd, and fly to OZ on 5th.
Right after than mamouth update
Beer Laos
Carla posing with Laos' premium export! i guess all is left to say is hope you all have a fantastic Xmas!! And an awesome New Year, which brings everything you hope for.
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