Luang Prabang

---

Since I last wrote, we have seen the Golden Triangle (but no opium fields), the border with Burma, the Long Neck & Akha tribes (who wear brass rings around their necks to stretch them) and spent 2 days on a boat to reach our current destination; the beautiful Luang Prabang, Laos.

The boat trip was pretty eventful as 4 hours into the journey we crashed with another boat, splitting the bow in half. We had to abandon ship in the middle of nowhere while the crew tied the boat together with a piece of rope. In the mean time people were emerging from the jungle to stare at us. The boys were very confused by the girls who stripped down to their bikinis to sunbathe and found the hippy with his beard very entertaining.

The steering was slightly dodgy for the rest of the journey and as those of you who have travelled on the Mekong will know, navigating the rocks is very important, especially when it gets dark and the captain just has a candle to light the way (and the torches all us backpackers got for Christmas).

Any way it was well worth all the stress as Luang Prabang is fantastic. Took this photo a couple of hours ago.

Only other big news is that Karl has had his first shave and no longer looks like a viking.

---

Comments

[anonymous]

Ewan
Hi you two! Glad you survived what sounds like a very eventful journey!! Mum was very concerned about the fact the boat didn't have a toilet! Good old mum, I'm surprised you didn't find a packet of crips buried in your backpacks! :-) Keep the journal entries and photos coming, they're great! Missing you both loads! Sarah and Stevexx P.S. I guess now Karl's shaved, I can't call him Ewan anymore! - Sarah and Steve

[anonymous]

Agent Orange
Hello, We are keeping up with your travels although may be I should look at the map to get a better picture of exactly where you are. Anyway my interst is in Agent Orange, the chemiclas the U.S used during the Vietname war to wipe out the countryside. Can you see any signs of its destruction 30 years on? Keep up with providing the news. - Bestsellens

[anonymous]

Boo!!
Emma, I'm in shock! Are you gonna come back a changed woman?? Glad you're having fun - wait till you get to the place between Luang Prabong and Vietienne (can't remember the name) - you must go to the caves with the pools (V. scary) and caning for the day (V hard as we ended up going in circles)!! Thought of you last week when I was in my five star accommodation in Bangkok - wish you had been there to enjoy it with me!! Will write properly soon - totally manic here so no emailing!! - Eve