Where's Nellie?

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Hi everyone,, been a few days since we've been on line so catching up on a few emails now and thougt we'd update the blog. thanks for all the messages and comments and stuff. most appreciated,, good to hear that things carry on at home! :-)

So,, what have we been up to then!!!! We'll since the last time when we were in Chiang Mai, we moved country, hostel and currency. We're now in Luang Prabang in Laos. Its excellent, loads of culture, nice bars, great restaurants and the biggest night market we've seen so far (and we've done a couple so far) Tad warm in the day though, must have been 35 plus today and we decided to walk for 2 hours in it.

To get here though we had to escape Bangkok which we did via the overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai. Funky train, really comfy in fact and they brought beer around for you! Got chatting to a mad Thai lady who snored like the wolf from Harry Potter. Chiang Mai was great, we both loved it. really chilled out, lots of nice places to go. We did a day trip that included an elephant ride where we got the largest bull, that liked to go his way. especially when our guide was not about and bananas were involved. All were named in the local hill tribe dialect,,, apart from baby Sidney that followed the group around. (Maria tried to adopt, but there's not enough room in Norwich). Also did some trekking and bamboo rafting which was great. Did a Thai cooking course there too, we now are masters of Thai Green/Red curry, be aware that's all you'll ever get from us now!

From Chiang Mai we caught the local bus North to Chiang Rai. Very different, not touristy, and ended up staying above a pub called the Easy Bar! Great name, but not when the local yanks are drinking Whisky til 8 in the morning. From there another bus to Huay Xai which is the border crossing into Laos. This one it was very local,,,, with air con,,, (i.e. doors open the whole way). We expected a large ferry to take us across the Mekon river, but ended up in a small motor boat. The scenary though was stunning down the river. Got through the border fine and found a nice guesthouse. The next morning came the marathon 2 day boat trip down the Mekon river to Luang Prabang. Its not called the slow boat for nothing, though that may be due to picking up fridges, mid stream, motor bikes and large white sacks that we were not allowed to open.... what opium trade!!! Some great sights though and definitly worth it. though on the stop over in Pak Beng we had to wrestle a few locals to get our bags from the boat.

Today we sorted our visa's and flights to Vietnam so we're heading south to Viang Vieng to do Tubing, go to the Plain of Jars, (yes, literally a plain full of 3m high jars from 3000 years ago,, must have been a great party.) Also hiring bikes to go around and go to some local caves and waterfalls, before moving on.

So that's where we are at the mo. Really lovin' it, chilled and into it now. Feels like we've been away ages, and yet its not even 2 weeks.

Catch up with you all soon and the next thrilling installment!!!!!

Kev and Maria

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Photos

There's Nellie!!!
Us on the back of the elephant called Mungde.

Lunch time
eating food,,, Kev clinging on! Work those quads.

Cheesy pose at waterfall
Was a tad chilly to get in, bar a few toes.

The next master chef contestant
Spring Roll man was feeling hot! So we ate him.

Just one more....
... they just kept appearing.

Comments

[Caron]

wow
OMG you two, the pics look just fantastic, especially Nellie!!! Glad your enjoying yourselves, you have so much time left and I really think you should have taken me as well. (how selfish lol!!). Hope its not to hot, yawn yawn (as she shivers under her blanket!!!) Take Care, keep the pics coming. Love ya xxx

[Dave C]

Meat feast
Maria - that looks suspicially like a full on meat samosa!!