Well we got here! Kayaking was definitely a better option than the alternative - admittedly it took twice as long but what better way to spend the day than floating down a tributary of the Mekong, paddling occasionally (luckily going downstream so not too much strenuous arm work required!) and having splashfights with the cheeky Laotian guides who looked after us (and tried to capsize us...). We traversed a few rapids, which was great fun, if perhaps more so for ...

First of all - ignore the photo. I'll find something more suitable soon but the connection's slow and the choice is limited! OK the adventure began on the minibus. After a reasonably comfortable few hours cruising round the mountain (that is, ignoring the part where we had to change buses because ours "had no speed"), the sky got darker - dusk we thought. Well yes, but then the heavens opened, the lightning started, the thunder rolled...and our headlights il...

Luang Prabang - one hell of an introduction to Laos. This place deserves its UNESCO Heritage Site status so much it's insane. A relatively painless trip over the Friendship Bridge (crossing borders - still a novelty!) and through Laos immigration delivered me into my 4th country, and a financially painful tuktuk trip took me to Vientiane airport. From there, it was a quick flight over to Luang Prabang, I don't want to use the word hop as it reminds me FAR to...