Lao, Lao lao and beer lao...

It's been a long time- apologies. There just hasn't been time enough to email..

Where to begin? Well, there were a couple of bad nightclubs in Vientiane, but the events of that night are best not published. Suffice to say it was our first run-in with beer lao (little did we know it would not be our last..)

We got a bus to Vang Vieng and managed to pick up a Canadian, an American (South African!) and a cornishman who were to become our travel companions for the next two weeks. Oh the fun! Vang Vieng is a grotty little town (sorry Lyndon) but spectacularly hugged by hills and the mekong. Tubing down the river was messy- We discovered that Beer Lao became synonymous with 'hello' as people yelled it every 5 minutes much to get you into bars that lined the river. I was too much of a pussy to throw myself off the giant rope swings but the boys made up for it (well, the north American contingent did!) We did lots of biking and climbing in caves (and by jove i almost enjoyed the outdoor pursuits!)

Then we all moved up to Luang Prabang which was stunning- golden temples, misty mornings and french streets and cafe's. We climbed a waterfall (..petted a tiger and saw a bear..) which was breathtaking (no, really, it was! Only topped by El Yunque in Cuba..) We discovered a street full of food (nicknamed Lyndon Lane as it was the only place we could fill all6'5'' of him up- fill your plate for 50c. Ouch) and I discovered the nightmarket... 2 embroidered bags, one bedspread, two pillowcases, a silk throw and some jewellery later (oh, and a beer lao t-shirt!) four of us went back down south to Vang Vieng (yes , we went tubing again and this time i did throw myself in the river!There's a pic to prove it and everything!)

For some unknown reason we then Kayaked (yes, in a BOAT) back towards Vang Vieng. It was beautiful and thankfully I had Thom in mine so I actually made it back!

this morning Sarah and I got up at 4 am to argue our way onto our Lao airlines flights to Cambodia (28 seater plane- much fear..) The corn is coming to meet us tomorrow when we'll explore..

I have seen so many beautiful things over the last few weeks- I can't write it all here. But I'm happy and the world is falling into place xxxxx