Hello there, just a very quick entry before my escort home finishes her haggling on the night market.

Here in Laos, its by far the most beautiful country i have been to yet. Crossing the border was fun, and the currency here is even more fun (1600 kip to the pound) but all went smoothly and we were relaxing on a slow boat within the hour or two. the first day was 7 hours on the boat, bloody perfevct. Over 80 percent of Laos is mountain covered with jungle and i can completely understand now why it is called the jewel of the mekong. I have fallen slightly in love with this country!!!!

The boat was more luxurious than i first imagoined, a few rows of old airport seats, a nice little bar, aneating/sleeping area (aka floor space) and a few deck chairs for sunbathing unbder the peace of roof that could be talen out. it even had a toilet on board, so no fellucca moments like in egypt!!!

It was the most peacefull of two days with a perfect breeze and even more perfect scenery i just sat back with my i pod in and enjoyed the view. At the end of the foirst day we stopped in a town called pac beng, it was tiny and very very remote but so charming. The views once you dragged your back pack up the mountaoin were spectacular and the people very intrigued to see us. the whole town has its own generators and our hotle only had power between 6 and 10 pm so my headtorch was a saviour!!!

Mind you they do have MASSIVE bugs here!!!! We spent the evening chilling out witha beer overlooking the river then headed back to our hotel, once the power was out we took a walk, i hacve never seen so many stars in my life!!!!!

Back to the hotle, quick shower to help you sleep with no fan or air con, into bed and turn off the torch, half an hour later i was still awake listening to something moving around in my handbag. I could take it no more turned on the light and found my self staring at a bloody cockroach!!! Me and emma (whoi i share with) were chasing that thing round for half an hour (i say we, she is blind as a bat without contacts) untill eventually i captured it in a pringles tube and sealed it in. I spent the rest of the night listening to the satisfying sounds of it hopelessly trying to get out!! haha!!!

The nect day in true buddist style i releaed it/ threw it back into the wild!!!!!!

Anyway this is tbc as i have to go... off to Vang Vieng tomorrow after getting up at 6am to watch the giving of alms by the locals to the monks. internet crap here so hopefully better in the next place, will post some photois, look at facebook and i have changed my profile pic to one of me and an elephant, it took me about an hour.

Hope everyone is well

Miss you all

Half way now!!!!