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So, after a very hectic last week in Vietnam we had decided to pay a little extra for a flight to Laos as we had heard nasty things about the border crossing via bus! So before our flight at 6.30pm, we had a very lazy last day in Hanoi...we returned from wet Sapa and then spent the day lounging around the backpacker hostel claiming free tea and coffee (even though we weren't supposed to!). Our taxi was booked for 3.30pm and at 2.30 I (Lau) realised i didn't have passport photos for my visa to Laos!! So, it was now my turn to run around like a mad woman trying to find somewhere that did them! After asking in several random shops I eventually found a lady with a camera who was able to do some for me...in one hour! She managed to do them a bit quicker and so I ended up rushing to reach the backpacker hostel and our taxi in time. After making it back to the hostel ON TIME we found out from the receptionist that our taxi had left without us! The cheek! So we then had to order another one and ended up waiting another half an hour. So by this point we're starting to panic a little about missing our flight. We got to the airport with an hour to spare. We were a little confused with the layout so tried to walk through security before we'd checked in! We rushed through check in thinking we'd need loads of time for security. Haha, were we wrong. It was basically just us in the airport and we strolled through, were barely looked at by anyone and had a whole hour to spare at the airport! Good times. (Although our plane left a lot to be desired).
Anyway, we arrived in Luang Prabang, a beautiful little town, a World Heritage town at that. Things were a little more expensive than we expected but I guess it's because of the status! Luang Prabang reminded us both of Hoi An in Vietnam for it's french feel, little boutique shops, candle lit restaurants and river side bars etc. Really lovely! Whilst there we saw one of their main temples (where there is a big Buddha footprint, wow!) and we did a day's trekking and kayaking. We also visited a waterfall...the water was pretty cold so only Lou was brave enough to nip in and have a little swim! After staying for longer than we meant to (because we just couldn't tear ourselves away!) we took a mini bus to Vang Vieng.
Vang Vieng is famous for tubing, and pretty much only tubing! For those not in the 'know' tubing is when you take a rubber ring down the river and stop off at the various river bars to drink yourself silly and then jump/swing/slide into the river! We threw ourselves into this (naturally) and managed to make it to the first 4 bars! Lou also took a zipline into the water and was better than many of the men doing it, i was very proud! When it got dark we headed back to our guesthouse, showered, ate dinner and then headed out with all the other drunk people from the river. Fun time was had. I think. However, after going to a bar where you take your flipflops off at the entrance, i ended up going home without them! Me and Lou have decided it would be best for me just to ditch shoes altogether.
The next day was a long one. I was sick from the beginning to the end of day and didn't get out of bed til 8pm. SHOCKING! But well worth it of course! So, we stayed away from tubing for the rest of our time in Vang Vieng and went cycling instead! That was really nice as we cycled into lots of little villages and met lots of lovely local Laos people!
From Vang Vieng we took a bus to Vientiane, the capital. A lot of people told us before we went that we wouldn't want long there as there's not a lot to do...they were right. Although it's nice and there's lots of bars and restaurants etc, there was not much to keep us busy. We went to the history museum, saw a fountain, a big statue of a man and walked past the hospital a few times, that was about it! Still, it was interesting to see how it's being developed and how things are changing.
It was then time to go back to Thailand and cross another border...luckily with Visas in tow in was smoother than usual...but not without it's hiccups...
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