It was, of course, a cold wet journey kayaking, we went under twice and the rapids weren't even that big, even the golden oldie Australians on the trip with is only went over once! It was still good fun and the scenery and surroundings were amazing, the guides also did an amazing job making us barbeque skewers for lunch, plus it was better than being on the road for 4 hours. We did still endure 2 in an uncomfortable local Tuktuk to take us from the river to the city!

We found a cheap room, and explored a little that night but were both pretty tired so ended up in a bakery sharing cakes for dinner. We saw the Pha That Luang the following day, it is the most important national monument in Laos and is a symbol of buddhism and Lao sovereignty. Our next activity was quite unusual, we had been recommended a rural massage parlour, just out of town next to a Wat. It took some searching but when I found it I was given a robe and sent into a smoky herbal sauna, given lots of green tea, and then pummelled by a tiny Lao woman! After a well earned dinner, we got on the oldest sleeper bus ever, it didn't have seats, just flat wooden areas with thin little mattresses to lay down. We did actually sleep really well and woke up 9 hours later in Paske, in the south. After a lot of changing buses and boats and waiting around, as is customary here, we got to Don Det, 4000 islands, where we had made friends and obtained little huts next door to each other on the river within 10 minutes of arrival. Theres really not much to do here at all so we chilled for lunch then found a reggae bar before watching the sunset back on our balcony in hammocks all together.

We took another kayaking trip the next day which first took us to Tat Somphanit waterfall, which is also known as Li Phi which means spirit trap as locals believe bad spirits are trapped here a they wash downstream. After this, Ben as I experienced a massive capsize when the front of our kayak got caught in some trees emerging from the middle of the river. I was dragged under and washed up a little way further down on a huge tree branch were I was safe but attached and impaled until the guide came over and untangled me! Our predicament caused 4 more boats to turn over as we blocked the pathway so we weren't the most popular in the group, although shortly after we spotted some rare Irrawaddy dolphins in Canbodian waters, coming to the surface to breathe which was a lovely sight. After a brief lunch stop, we went to Khon Phapheng Falls which is the largest waterfall in South East Asia by volume, very impressive! To our dismay, we then had to kayak back, a shorter route but against the current, so after we got back, all we could do was drag ourself out for dinner, where Ben ordered "fried chicken in Holy Basic Steak" which was delicious although no one could work out what it actually was, then crash for the night.

Up early again on our last day in Laos, 10th December, to cross the boarder to Cambodia. We had half an hour to spend the rest of our Kip, which can't be exchanged outside the country, so we bought some tasty local food, some really good fake Raybans, and some head torches for future caving and also our mountain climb in Borneo. Very productive! Next stop, Cambodia, which was just 1 hour later as the boarder crossing is much more organised on the way out than the way in!

Our journey here was short and sweet, so there's not so much to sum up;

IN LAOS I HAVE BEEN MOSTLY:

EATING: amazing freshly made sandwiches on French bread
DRINKING: fruit shakes and a few "happy" beverages
SEEING: beautiful rainforest, and plenty of river!
WATCHING: Friends! It's on everywhere!
LISTENING TO: still "Gangnam style" and Bob Marley
LOVING: Island life, and the laid back attitude of the whole country
HATING: waiting around a bit too much and the mange on a poor little dog I made friends with... Let's all hope I don't have scabies now!!