Vang Vieng was previously the party capital of Laos. Bars lining the Mekong would cater to fun filled tourists tubing down the river, getting wasted and generally being western in all their weird ways - until too many people died drowning in the river and the government clamped down. Most of the bars were closed down not too long before we arrive. We were told by some not to even bother stopping in Vang Vieng but I'm glad we did. With most of the bars closed down...

The next day we miraculously rise early and keep with the plan to hitch hike to Vang Vieng. Locals in the book shop next door help us to write a sing in Laos, which we hope says Vang Vieng and not falang, falang!With ukulele, guitar and children's balloons in hand we are look like some sort of personified travelling holiday. Lots of smiles pass our way; of course we look ridiculous but don't care. There is a great atmosphere in the air and we are all on a high. D...

After all that travelling we are ready to chill out and luckily the weather knows it too and starts to rain. I find an awesome Brass Monkey type joint owned by an elderly French couple (there are so many French people in Laos! [Due to the historical connection- the French colonised Laos at the end of the 19th century]). The place shows films day and night, has a fully stocked library, friendly open atmosphere and sells relatively expensive but tasty food. When I ...

We take a local bus from Phongsali to Laung Prabang. Of course it's the obligatory 50minutes late and as it rocks up I just start laughing. This bus looks like a hand-me-down from rural India. The entire back window is missing and has been boarded up with MFD attached by ropes leaving large gaps all the way around the sides. Our bags are lifted and tide onto the roof and we hop on board. Speeding along a dirt track cut out of the mountain in a mining region, in t...

Our initial experience of Phongsali was not a great - the tuk tuk drivers drops us off in a random place outside the city - literally within 30 seconds of stopping the tuk tuk, they hop on a motorbike and driving away before we can ask them anything. We resisted paying the additional tuk tuk that was conveniently waiting for us and walked the few kilometres into town with our big packs. After checking into a hotel, I ate one of the worst meals I have had since ...