Hi well we're now in Laos and have travelled quite a distance over the last week. We didn't end up going to Chiang Rai due to time so instead we left Chiang Mai and got on a 7 hour bus to Chiang Khong which is right on the border of Thailand. Checked into our lovely bamboo hut with 3 other people that we met on the bus and then had dinner on the terrace overlooking the Mekong River with Laos opposite. Then we spent a day chilling, catching up with washing and on Saturday 27th October, at 8.30am, we got a ferry across the river to the Laos border at Huay Xai. There was quite alot of people doing the same trip and so there was a made dash to get visas and passports checked before getting a sawngthaew (small truck with a long seat either side, fits about 8 people in it) to the other port. We then caught a slow boat down the Mekong River which took two days and had an overnight stop in Pak Beng. This was an amazing experience and because there was a group of us it was great fun too! Arrived in Louang phabang, early evening on Sunday and checked into our guesthouse. Louang Phabang is a lovely little city and so the next three days were spent looking round royal palace, the many temples and wats, more markets, watching the sunset from the sacred hill, visiting the buddha caves, which are bascially two caves filled with lots of old buddha images that can't be used anymore and then going for a swim and a play on the rope swing at Kouang Si Waterfalls which also has a rescue centre for bears and tigers. We've had a fantastic time and are just about getting our head around the Lao currency which is kip but also american dollar can be used - all very confusing! Our next stop was Vang Vieng, so on Wednesday we got a mini bus for six hours along a very bumpy, but beautiful windy road through the mountains and lots of villages to Vang Viang. There are loads of travellers here and most of them are here to do tubing! We're doing it tomorrow but it's basically going down a river in a big black tube - lots of fun so can't wait! On Saturday we head for the capital of Laos, Vientiane and then from there to Hanoi, Vietnam! Take care for now and lots of love xx