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Sup. This will be a long one. In Phnom Penh and things have taken a turn for the worse. Last night - early this morning our room got busted into and Olly's laptop, camera, some money and Ipod got stolen. None of my stuff got taken but my photos from Bangkok to Vang Vienne and all of his photos were on the laptop. Sucks.
On the other hand, it's been an amazing few of weeks. After leaving Chiang Mai I headed out to the northern border of Lao and crossed over the Mekong no problems. Met Olly and sorted our stuff out for the Gibbon Experience. Wow. Zip lining from trees across valleys, living in awesome tree houses well up in the air, jungle sounds and cool people. Well worth the dosh. Didn't see any gibbons but the zip lining made up for that. Basically they are cables stretched across valleys on which you attach yourself and zip on over - longest being about 380mtrs. Also got a leech on my wounded toe and it cleared up real quick and zipped over to a real nice waterfall for a swim. A let down was the staff. Our guides didn't know much English so asking questions about the jungle or the huts or the food or the schedule was worthless - "I don't know. I'm just guide."
After there we headed to Luang Nam Ta for a night where I ate bat then had a 8 hours bus ride on to 2 secret places. The bus ride was sweet. Northern Lao is up and down all the way. Villages are perched on the ridges of mountains with fantastic 360 views. Beautiful. Real country. Lao is like getting back to nature and living on a farm. Ducks and ducklings, chickens and chicks, cows and buffalo walk on the roads and paths as if they own them. Got to our transfer point and had to stay the night for a boat up river. With lime stone mountains and rivers all around us it was hard not to relax. Got up river to a small viallage and grabbed a bungalo with great views up and down river for $2 a night - stayed 3 and didn't do a thing but lie in the hammock and read and think.
Moved on by boat south to Luang Prabang. Nice 'city'. I only stayed for a day but it had a good arty feel about it and could've spent longer. On that day we went out and saw a wicked waterfall coming through lime stone cliffs.
Next was Vang Viang and the tubing. Grab a tube and float down river stopping off at bars on the side for a drink and a swing. Pretty cool. Awesome swings and the scenery made it. Didn't drink too much in the end and got back in the dark but had a cool time. Also went to check out a cave and swimming hole and partied at smile bar every night. Was there for 3 nights and then on south again to Vientienne. Only there for a night - went clubbin in the only club in Lao - was alright. Next day got an overnighter sleeper bus down to the very south and the 4000 islands - it's part of the Mekong river just before some powerful waterfalls. The river backs up and has created thousands of islands. Nice. Spent a couple of days there kicking it in a hammock next to the river for $2 a night - I love Lao. Witnessed some awesome storms rolling across sky. Hired a bike and rode down to the next island to see the waterfalls. Powerful - the whole of the Mekong pouring over some old granite. Had to stop under cover for some rain then went further south to a beach. Got stuck in the rain again so waited at a restaurant run by locals. Best experience with any real local, country people I've had on the trip. Got on the beers with them and they kept serving up fresh, BBQ'd fish and laughing and singing while the rain was pouring outside. Beaut. Made our way back in the twilight rain and slept very soundly.
From there it was a 'bus' trip to Phnom Penh - 4 different mini vans actually, packed to the brim. They said leave at 8am, get in at 7.30 - got in at 11pm after being cramped in the back of a 12 seater sitting 16. This was after a 12 seater sitting 19. I am not a sardine. Anyway, got here and lovn it. Good to be back in a city with a variety of good food. No more fried rice for a while. Saw the semi final - Crusaders Hurricanes. Sweet. Been out to all the regualr spots. Sweet. Gotta go to the police station tomorrow for a police report to claim insurance - they're not open on Sunday's(tell you how that goes next time) - and pick up our Vietnam visas then off south to the beach before up and west to Angkor Wat. Can't wait.
Overall, loved Lao and recommend it to everybody. Be prepared for delays - they serve food one dish at a time and it'll usually come about 45mins after sitting down. Buses will leave late. People will discuss things for a long time before taking action and time is not an issue. Loved it. Back to nature. Old style villages and beautiful scenery. Possible to party every night or get away and go bush. Loved it. Go.
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