Dearest All Since leaving Luang Prabang, we hopped onto a minibus for the 6 hr journey to Vang Vieng on Rte 13 which used to be a rough highway as there had been some ambushes by the Lao Mafia in 2003. We made it to Vang Vieng in one piece. Lots of winding roads up in the mountains, spectacular scenery of forests and hills. Vang Vieng was a really weird place, basically it was just one street full of bars, restaurants, guesthouses and travel agents! Lots of backpackers sitting on couches sprawled out watching Friends on TV all day!! Very laid back. You wouldnt believe what was on offer on the menus - bag of opium, magic mushrooms, happy shakes, pizzas etc! We went rubber tubing down the river, ie sitting on a donut ring - great fun sliding down the river at a slow speed! I was dragged to the banks by a Lao guy thinking i was one of his tour groups!! Went to Vientiane on a public bus 4 hours away and found there was v little to do in the city - its so quiet being the capital of Laos! Decided to book our bus fare to Hanoi the next day- a 24 hour trip, should be a jolly experience! Byeee Rachel and Andy