So we landed at bangkok after a brief stop at manila airport in the philippines and it was totally different to what either of us had expected. it was hectic, polluted, smelly and everywhere you went you got hassled by local tuk tuk/taxi drivers but it was cheap. after a few days though you started to get used to it all and didnt even think about things going on around you. the first couple of days we spent down the famous khao san road, eating local foods and drinking local beer and bahting with the local sellers for cheap clothes etc..... at this point after afew days we werent sure what to do as we were waiting for a mate of mine (chris) to arrive from england. we could have gone up to chang mai for afew days but we decided to stick around in bangkok, save some money and wait for him to get there. once he arrived we booked our 14hr bus trip for the next day and we were headed for laos.

after numerous bus transfers from bangkok we finally reached vientiene, the capital of laos! we only stayed for one night and the next destination was vang vieng (home of the famous tubing).... basically you hire a massive inflatable tire ring, get driven up 4km from the town centre and float down the river stopping and riverside bars, playing in the mud and swinging on rope swings! so much fun we stopped another night and did the same again the following day! the next stop was luang prabang (which is where we are now) its a smallish town with a cool vibe to it though.since we've been here we visted afew local temples and today we went on a elephant ride through some waterfalls. we fly to hanoi tomorrow and hope we enjoy vietnam as much as we have enjoyed laos.

xx

P.S photos will be up as soon as we can find decent internet!!!!!