From Chiang Mai we bought a ticket all the way to Luang Prabang in Laos via mini bus and the 2 day slow boat, staying over night in 2 different places.

We met some really nice people and had a cool time travelling with them. Some funny Kiwis and Ozzies, and another couple doing the same as us but moving to Sydney.

The slow boat down the Mekong was very picturesque and the first day we enjoyed it, played a bit of Yatzhee and chatting with everyone, the next day wasn't the best, with most of us a bit hung over from the night before, and being put onto a smaller boat, Louise and I had to sit at the front of the boat on the floor. But it wasn't so bad, just a bit uncomfortable for the 8 hour trip, which was made even more uncomfortable when 12 locals joined us halfway down the river halfing the amount of floor space.

We spent 5 nights in Luang Prabang, which most of the others did before going our different ways. Had some good nights out, everywhere closes at 11 apart from the bowling alley just out of town, so that's full us drunken westerners. I've never played drunk before, and I've never seen such a low average score for everyone.

We had another night out which ended up in the local night club, this time it was full of locals. It was really fun and wierd at the same time, but suprisingly a good way for celebrating our 7 year anniversarry together.

Unfortunately for me we had booked a Kayak trip for the next day on the river, just a little hung over I found myself in the burning heat doing the majority of the paddling in our double kayak. It was great, but a bit too long, we covered about 25km apparently.

We said our fairwells to our friends and caught a flight for Hanoi on the 26th. We hope to meet up with an Irish girl called Aine and see a bit of Halong Bay together on an overnight junket trip around the bay (should be fantastic).

At the moment we're not too fussed about Hanoi, it's crazy with all of the motorbikes and beeping horns, and everyone wants to sell us stuff or rip us off. maybe we'll warm to it soon.