Always have to build up to writing a blog, when it seems so much has happened again! *breathe* Ok, here we go! (Journal is in front of me, on the right page!)

Last time I wrote, I was spending my last couple days in Chiangmai, catching up on blog/laundry/sleep (well, trying to)... The last night there, a load of us from the hostel went out, and I drank perhaps one too many cocktails! Was a fun night, and I was grateful that I finished packing the night before, when I woke up the next day!

I then had to embark on a journey to Pai - 140km doesn't seem too bad, but try 762 curves in the road, as a hungover person who gets travel sick at the best of times. Not fun. Anyway, we checked into a place called Darling View, which had a slightly crazy woman running it, who was (unsurprisingly) called Darling. Nice enough place, but way too many English people for my liking, giving all the rest of us English people a bad name!

The next day, Alex and I hired mopeds (with drivers!), and went on a little explore. We visited the big waterfall, Coffee in Love (which I'd heard about 2 years ago, and here I had an amazing banana and chocolate cake!), Pai Canyon and the natural hot springs. When it's a hot day, hot springs are not really what you need, but they were nice nonetheless. Some of them are so hot you can boil an egg in them! I was also pretty pleased that I managed to get local price for entry, seeing as I had my work permit!

That night, went for dinner at an Italian, and then had drinks in the evening at Ting Tong bar, where there was a big camp fire in the middle, which was nice and sociable. Met loads of people there, and even a guy (who worked behind the bar) who used to live in Prakhonchai!

Next day, me, Alex and Betty (the swiss girl who was sharing our dorm) hired bikes, but after a small cycle ride, decided it was too hot, so we cycled to the swimming pool and spent our afternoon there instead!

The following day, used internet, caught up on journal etc, and then got a bus in the evening, which took us to the Thai border. We'd met up with some friends from Chiangmai in Pai, and so they were getting the same bus/boat as us, which was cool. We arrived about 2.30am, went to a guesthouse for a quick sleep, then all got woken up for breakfast and to go to immigration, to sort our Laos visas. Eventually all sorted, and we got on the slow boat down the Mekong.

The views were really beautiful, and we spent 2 days in total on the slow boat (stopping overnight in the small town of Pak Beng). Arrived into Luang Prabang on the Thursday afternoon, and went to find a guesthouse to stay in. We all had dinner, then a little wander round the night market, before heading back. There's a curfew in Laos, so all businesses close at 11.30, so that everyone can be home by midnight. I use this to my advantage, as I enjoy my sleep!

Next day, headed to the Vietnamese embassy to sort out my visa, and then in the afternoon we went to the waterfalls 34km out of town - if you've seen any of my photos, you'll know how beautiful they are! Every time I thought I'd got to the end, I came across another section, equally as amazing! Really cool, and there was a part you could swim in, with a rope swing to jump in :) The hardest bit was climbing up the tree to get to the rope in the first place! After, we went for chicken and sticky rice, before we headed back into town.

The following day, we hired bikes, and cycled round for a bit, went for a little paddle in the Mekong (as you do) - was really cute to see all the little kids playing too. Everyone in Laos is so happy, all the time! (Except the odd few grumpy ones...). Then at the end of the day, Alex, Sean and I climbed up to the top of the temple on the hill (Wat phousi), to see some lovely views of the city! Alex, Jasmine and Tom were all leaving in the evening, so had dinner then went to say goodbye, but was too late, so missed them!!

That evening, met up with Beth and Nicola, 2 of the girls who had been on our bus to the border - so we went for a cocktail with them. Was expensive but good! Mine was called 'dark side of the moon' - it's jager and peach, and I would recommend it!

Next day, Sean and I checked into a new hostel, and then in the afternoon, we got a tuktuk to Pak Ou caves. Basically, caves in the side of the cliff, which have been filled with Buddha statues over the years! There were loads of visiting monks, and it was dark in the caves, so had to watch where I was going, as monks aren't allowed to touch girls!

That evening, we met up with a load of people at Utopia bar, which was nice. Though it took forever to get there (despite not being our first time there)... Sean assured me he knew the way ("are you 100% sure?" "yes!") but he got us lost, and in the end, I lead the way! Anyway, got there eventually, and had a nice evening with a group of people. One of the guys we met was called Luca, and he's a circus performer from Italy. He was telling us about this time he was in Oman airport, and his next flight was delayed, so to fill the time, he did handstands the whole way up and down the escalators! Imagine being told in a dramatic Italian accent, and it's hilarious!

Next morning, I went to the temple on the hill again with a German guy, Mo, from the hostel, because we wanted to see sunrise, but we were a little late. Was still nice to be there without the crowds of French tourists though, and to see the local people out and about (they're sensible enough to avoid the ridiculously hot parts of the day!). I also realised that morning, that I had somehow lost my purse the night before, and both my English and Thai debit cards - bit rubbish, but cancelled them and sorted it!

The rest of that day was a lazy one, had a long breakfast/lunch with Beth, used the internet, and went to Joma bakery for a sandwich and to catch up on my journal. Laos is amazing for its REAL bread - I really enjoyed the French influence here!!

That evening, went to the market to buy some of the things I'd been wanting to buy every day leading up to then! Wanted to buy so many pretty things, but had to say no, as there's not enough space/weight in my bag to carry them round.

The next day, after more internet, breakfasts/baguettes etc, got a tuktuk in the evening to the bus station, where I had to get an overnight bus down to Vientiane. We were hoping for a sleeper bus, but no.... it wasn't the most comfortable bus ever, and the roads were crazy - really windy, hilly, and the biggest 'potholes' ever, more like craters! So it was a bumpy night.

When we arrived into Vientiane, we had already made plans to go to the spa for the day! We went first to the bakery, but had to sit outside like tramps, waiting for it to open, as we were so early! Had a chocolate croissant (bless the French, again), used the internet and electricity, then headed over to the spa. Swimming pool, sauna, and Lao massage.... followed by sandwich and ice cream. Good day!

Then another overnight bus to Pakse, but this time it was a sleeper, and I slept the whole night! So good! From Pakse, got another bus to Si Phan Don (4000 islands).... then finally arrived at the bus station, where some Lao people pointed, so we walked in the vague direction they had pointed us in, and arrived at the water's edge! Got a boat across, checked in, and then chilled for the afternoon. Went for a little walk with Nicola, got myself an iced lemonade, and chatted to some Canadians who had been there a while, and been travelling 17 months already!

The next day turned out to be my only full day on Don Det, because I had to get a long journey back to Prakhonchai the following day. Anyway, we had decided to go fishing with Papa for the day... went to Mama's in the morning after breakfast, and then Papa took us out on his little boat. The nice thing about it was that you got the impression if the 3 of us weren't there, he'd still be going out fishing anyway. He took us to a few different spots, all beautiful, and he threw in some bait and waited for some fish. Then we'd use the little bamboo rods and work out magic. The fish weren't feeling it though, and we mostly just got tiny little ones, but it was fun anyway. Papa kept saying "fish no eat!" (they wouldn't take the bait!).

When we got back, Mama fried the fish and we ate it with sticky rice. Then we went for a swim in the river, before another chill session in the hammocks. We had Indian for dinner (so good!), and then went to a bar, which was fun. Everyone else was drinking, but it was just toooo hot, and you constantly feel dehydrated, so I was just downing water all night!

Next day, I had breakfast and said my goodbyes, then got a bus and several buses, back to Thailand and Prakhonchai. I got to Surin at 10pm, so stayed with a friend there overnight. The day had been so hot though, and the air conditioning was doing nothing for the level of heat we were experiencing, and I was almost definitely suffering from some mild form of heat stroke. It's still getting to me a bit now!

Anyway, now I'm back in Prakhonchai, and helping some friends on a summer camp at the private school here. Will tell you about that in the next post!

Hope you're all well... and honestly, the heat here is nothing to be jealous of - I actually fancy a little bit of your cold weather for a change!! (Just a little mind!). Miss you all, and looking forward to seeing you soon xxxxx