Hey everyone

a quick message from beautiful laos! this place is amazing, with the mountainous, jungle background and chilled out, smiley people this place has been the perfect relaxer after vietnam. having said that, we've been pretty busy!

first day we took a look around at the temples in luang prabang, got a famous oil massage and ate some beautiful lao cuisine. the following day i went elephant riding in the morning! - amazing! my elephant was called oolah thai, and i rode her bare back! my guide ghum took the liberty of pointing out to me everytime we passed a spider the size of my face in the jungle while riding...eek.

in the afternoon i went out to one of the big waterfalls out of the city, and stopped at this great bear sanctuary.

then got a horrible bus ride to vangvieng, where i met up with my old tour group for drinks and swings into the mekong river! yesterday i survived the tubing rite of passage for any self respecting backpacker - would recomnmend to anyone! stay away from the 'happy' shakes, and beware mrs lao with her happy mushroom free shots :) nothing beats drifting down the mekong in an old tractor inner tube while watching sun set over the mountains. i feel a girly holiday coming on!

party last night and the group have now left which is so sad! i was going to stay here for another day to do some caving, but the weather's pretty bad and the mist is all over the mountains so not great. just about to get a bus to Vientiene for one night, then off to bangkok.

home bound on sunday night!

Caz xxx

PS - mother, i did have plans for 3rd october you know!!!!