Som arrived in Laos this afternoon after a 22hr bus ride..from hell! They'd overbooked the bus so there were locals sitting/laying in the aisles on plastic stools. My seat didnt recline,my reading light didnt work, i was sick at the beginning of the trip..couldnt even do that in peace as got followed round the back of the coach by two asian guys! Also the Asian guy sitting next to me in the aisle had no sense of spatial awareness! Then 4hrs in...with no sleep, we need a new clutch! So stay stationary for the next 2hrs whilst they come into the aisle next to me and lift up the floor to fix it. With no sleep we arrived at the border and then ended up paying more dollars just for a stamp on the visa we'd already paid for, they just get money out of you any way they can! I am here and alive, although ive got Cankles (ankles the size of my calves) and look like an elephant. So far, Laos is beautiful with a lot of jungle. We are just having an overnight stop here and then moving on tomo four hrs away to Vang Vieng where we are going to go tubing. Tubing is basically goin down the river in tubes, and there are bars all along the riverside that pull you in and u have a drink then get back into ur ring and off you float to the next one. Will get back to you with the results of that one!