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Laos
After a long and windy bus to the boarder, the crossing went pretty well other than being ripped off a little on the exchange rate. We stayed the first night in Lac Sao, this town was purely a boarder town. There was one hotel, one restaurant and one bar... Pretty basic. When we arrived Charley showed some of us around the local food Market, it was quite something with all the food, fish and meat and assortment of other very random things. We then all went to the only restaurant and tried the most Laos dish, a sort of mince meat thing with mint and coriander and sticky rice. It was ok but we had better elsewhere, we then had a little look at the only bar... It was pretty funny to say the least, all very tacky with Christmas decorations in the middle of May. We didn't stay long as I think even the locals found it funny we were there.
Next day we travelled to Vientiane, 7 hr drive! We had lunch on the way at a very local restaurant. Once we got there we put our things away and Chris, Susy, Jenny and I took a tut tut around all the main sights. We climbed a tower fort thing where you can see the entire city, buying some tops on the way up. Then to a gold solid temple thing (Pha That luang golden stupa) which many see as the symbol of Laos as it's on all their notes.
We then headed to the river bank where we bumped into the others and we all went to a second story bar to see the river view. There really wasn't much to see as a massive road had been built in front of the river making the view nothing. We headed back and had a quick check on the computers and things before we went out for dinner. Town didn't exactly seam lively so we didn't stay out, just went back to our rooms.
Next morning we had all decided to leave earlier than the tour recommends to get to Vang Vieng. Once we arrived we had a little tour to see where things were, the majority of people we saw were either bandaged or absolutely twated, we were at the home of tubing. That day we rented bikes, I'd always wanted to ride a proper motorbike but to scare to try it alone so Tim and I rented one together. Still waiting for the others to get their moped scooters Tim and I set off in where we were told a lush lagoon and caves. Once over the bridge and on a dirt road we saw a small sign saying lagoon. We turned town it only to spend the next half hour skidding on dirt and over little hump thingys that separated these small field things. We even had to get off and pick the bike up at times only to find out it was the wrong place so had to get all the way back. Once back on the road we saw that there were signs for these everywhere and that the main one was at the end of the road. After a couple of other miss turnings I had a go on the bike. I loved it! sooooo much fun!! Didn't fall once, steering was fine and even change the funky gears, ok maybe I got close to a ditch one but close not in!! Lol then Tim got on behind me this was a hell of a lot harder, Tim's heaver than me so the slight lean from him through it all off balance but I got used to it, it was lots of fun!! The others caught up with us and we finally got to the right place and found a gorgeous lagoon, blue water and a lush tall tree that people were climbing up and jumping off. We all rope swang in and after that we tried the tree. I was sooo proud to jump off the top branch tho it took me a while to build up to doing it. The locals were crazy at it, showing us all up. Suddenly from being bright and sunny it started to piss it down so we took cover for a while, jumped off a little after and then road back, I did find it less fun on the real road where you actually have to look out for cars and things instead of just enjoying the ride. That night we headed out, had a meal and a bucket with it. After a while chilled playing pool and things we left to the bar and had a couple more. It was great fun and probably one of my favorite days of the tour.
Next day we went tubing. Well we didn't rent tubes so I don't know If you can call it tubing but we went to the place and started at the first bar and just walked down. Jenny, Chris and I all shared a bucket at each but soon all the free shots and things added up. It was soo weird to see Ollie Woodard from Cokethorpe there as well as Lara Strut from Rye St Antony days. We jumped in a couple of times and found the rope swing crazy as it looked like a death trap. We headed back as it started to get dark, got some food and if I'm honest I went straight to bed.
Next day we left at 9 for another 7hr drive on windy roads to Luang Prabang. This is where Charley lived for 2years so it was nice to have a proper show around. It was a nice town and the first night we went for another home stay dinner at one of Charley's friends. When we arrived they did a Budest welcoming ceremony for us. The 4 oldest in the household blessed us and prayed for us as they each tied one piece of white string around our wrist, so we ended up with 4 bands on each wrist we were meant to keep on for at least 3days. After the ceremony we had lots and lots of delicious food!! All completely stuffed we headed back home. The next day the others went for an elephant ride but as I figured I would be doing this later with Chris in Thailand I didn't bother. It was actually nice to have some time alone but when I woke up Clair greeted me saying Jess had been up all night puking and emptying her guts out. She looked white, as the morning wore on she got a little better but only enough to get into a tut tut to the hospital for fluids. I left about he same time to look around the city. I started by heading for a temple on the hill where you could see the whole city. The view was gorgeous. I also met another English gap year guy who helped me out a little bit. I was intending to rent a moped and driving to a massive, many tier waterfall and meet the others there, who were going straight from the elephant ride. He told me yet more horror stories about moped accidents in South East Asia and how horrible and long the road was to get there. From his advice I looked for a share tut tut, found none. They only offered me the price for one to myself but just as I was about to give up a taxis with 2 girls drove by and I jumped in, we waited a while and a very weird elderly man and British Japanese women couple joined us. We chatted on the way up to the waterfalls, steadily more and more happy I didn't drive myself. Once there we went though a bear sanctuary were they rescued bears from torture of the glands or something like that, it was really sad tho. I started walking up the waterfall and bumped into the others. Jenny kindly continued up with me as the others headed down. Once we saw the main, large waterfall we went back to join the others swimming in a lower safer area. It was really nice, if a little cold. I got a lift with them as we headed back. Did a little shopping at the night market and the others went out to eat but I was feeling a little sick so stayed in with some cold food.
The next day we got on a slow boat. It was quite pretty but slow. After a little snooze, Jenny, Carl, Tim and I spent the entire day playing cards (I learnt a couple new games) and actually learning the proper rules of UNO. We stopped off at Pak Beng a riverside town to sleep and eat we literally just did that, went for one drink but it was dead. The next day we were back on the boat playing cards once again. Oh but did have a lush lunch on board. Then we arrived at the Thai Boarder
- comments
Jennison You make your travels so interesting it's a great pleasure to read. Can't say wish I was with you - I couldn't do all your activities! Thanks for the loveky PC. Enjoy NZ. Love, Granny.