We crossed the border from Chiang Mai, Thailand to Vientiane, Laos on 26th September and headed straight for Luang Prabang, passing through Vang Vieng on the way. It was the most horrible journey- 26 hours in total, swapping between 4 or 5 minivans on the way. When we first got picked up we thought that the minivan would be taking us to a larger coach for the rest of the journey but no... the tiny, cramped, non-reclining back seats on the minivan would be our home (and the home of everyone's luggage that proceeded to fall on us) from 6pm until 6am when we were hearded off into the border office. We had to laugh!!

We'd had pretty much no sleep as the roads are absolutely awful, the van took a stop every 2 hours and being at the back, we felt every bump. We really felt like illegal immigrants sat in this long thin room with chairs down the sides surrounded by lots of shady looking characters apparently doing visa runs. Quite the experience!

I had to have a passport sized photo taken to attach to my forms; after the lack of sleep and overall discomfort with the situation, it was 100% the worst picture of me in the history of my face and perhaps even the worst picture of anyone, ever. Luckily, the lovely woman gave me 2 copies to keep for my own enjoyment. It has taken pride of place in my diary and I will treasure it forever.

Thankfully it was all worth it. Luang Prabang is STUNNING!! I love it here. We visited Kuang Si waterfall. My jaw dropped when I saw the bluest natural pools I've ever witnessed and cascade after cascade where you can swim and jump. There was even a rope swing... and lots of little fish that like to nibble at your dead skin! Mmmmhh, free pedicure.

In the town there is an alleyway that everyone calls the food alley (surprisingly) which is INCREDIBLE. You pick a buffet stall and fill your plate as full as you like for the pricely sum of 10000 kip- all of 80p! It's all vegetarian food unless you pay the same again for a piece of fish or chicken. It has been surprisingly easy to eat in Asia as a pescetarian. Such good food!! The night market is fantastic. I will be buying lots of gifts here- there is something for everyone and it is all so colourful and authentic. Much better than Thailand.

Although there is a midnight curfew so bars shut early, people head on to the club until 1am then to the bowling alley until 3am. We did this ritual twice whilst we were here, the first time meeting some locals and going between the two on the back of their motorbikes and the second with some Australian and Welsh guys who were absolutely hilarious. I learnt alot from those nights. 1) Don't dismount a motorbike on the side with a boiling hot exhaust pipe 2) If you don't want to risk ALL YOUR PHOTOS being deleted, do not hand your camera to a drunk Laos friend. 3) The best friendships are often made completely randomly (i.e. sharing a tuk tuk) 4) I am even more rubbish at bowling when drunk than I am when sober!

'La Pistoche' swimming pool and bar is the perfect place to go and relax. They know how to do Happy Hour right- it is not one hour but 7 hours, and it is definitely very happy.