We've been in South East Asia for 2 nights And what a surreal experience it has been. Bangkok! 1 word.. MENTAL. Good mental though.
Arrived at Our hotel (vientai) just off Kho San Road at 5pm. It's actually a really lovely hotel with really friendly staff. Soon after we met Jo and Becky (amazing) in a bar called Lucky Beer on Kho San Road. We ate Yellow Thai Curry and Green Thai Rice. My mouth was on fire but we LOVED it. The evening was meant to be a civilised meal/drink and then the local drink which contains A full bottle of Rum, Coca Cola and Red Bull arrived. Wowzers, it was like rocket fuel and our civilised drink ended up in most bars along the strip and aclub called Lava and strolling in at 5am.
The night ended with a very cultural trip to McDonalds!
The next day we woke up At 8 to have free breakfast and the 3 of us pretty much ate with our eyes closed and then crawled back to bed for a few hours. Not sure if it was hangover or jet lag. Were going with Jet lag but I'm sure you will all make up your own mind.
We got up and went shopping in the local markets and bagged a pair of Hareem trousers which I know already I will be wearing EVERY day. Feel like Aladdin. The locals are friendly but it is all quite false. They see us as walking money signs and will do anything to try and get you into there shop. Quite a shock but you soon harden to them.
We got our Vietnam Visas sorted today and at the same time booked a trip to Chang Mi where we will be staying 1 night in hotel then onto a 3 night trek in a rainforest. Haha imagine that, me, shell and Sarah will be sleeping in rainforest in a hut! Aahhhhh! Will definitely be a test! Might be eating cockroaches by the end of it. Will update more on this as it happens.
For the last two days we have had Locals trying to get us into Ping Pong Shows. After the millionth person tried dragging us in there we decided, WHY NOT?! so 5 of us crammed on a 2/3 seater Tuk Tuk in the monsoon rain and overtook all the cars until we arrived in Pak Pong where all the lady boys and shows were. The 5 of us went shopping round the local 'designer' Market and then in we walked to the show. surprisingly it was not seedy at all and was absolutely hilarious. The lady popped 5 balloons by throwing darts out of her Mary, smoked a cigarette, pulled razor blades from herself. And wrote us a sign saying, 'hello, how are you?'. She then handed me and Joe a table tennis bat and shot ping pong balls for me and Jo to hit! Brilliant. Very very bizarre.
On the 5th we went to the Grand Palace. We had to wear long trousers and cover our shoulders out of respect. It was a beautiful place. Once we had walked round the whole place we sat (sweating)on some steps and watched the locals preying and chanting. Was quite a haunting sound.
We got a canal (bus) boat back to Koh San Road which was a real treat! We then got some Thai Food and me and sarah ate Mas Am Man curry (sounded something like that) and Shell and the rest had Tom Yum soup. We were then picked up at 7pm to get our night bus to Chang Mia and arrived at hotel (B.M.P) at 8am. The journey felt lonnnggg and we all had our first experience of weeing in a hole! The Hotel is less luxury than the Vientai but we still have a toilet seat and shower so can't complain.