MON 22 LUANG PRABANG-LAOS

three of our group went on a 5 hour hike,the rest of us met them at the end of their hike via tuk tuks at kuang sii waterfalls.we were glad we didnt go on the hike as they all looked hot and bothered.they said there were leeches and all sorts of crêepy crăwlies-one of the girls also managed to hit her head on a tree.we swam and cooled off in one of the pools nẻar the báse òf the watèrfalls.there was a rope swing which you could launch yóurself off into the pool.it was fairly high up -mimi eventually jumped in.i felt a bit sorry for all of the girls in our group as they had to cover up to swim while another group of french and germans wore bikinis.the water was deep and cold-mimi had a bit of a panic attack when she first jumped in.we then visited bear lao sanctuảry-a rescue bear sanctuary.

tried a waterbuffalo burger-a bit salty-had to wash it down with large bottles of the lovely beer lao

TUE 23

THE DREADED FLIGHT DAY!

MIMI AND A FEW OTHERS GOT UP AT 0545 TO GO AND FEED THE MONKS.AFTẺR THIS EVERYONE WENT OFF TO A LOCAL MUSEUM.I DIDNT GO AS I HAD TO USE INTERNET AND PREPARE FOR FLIGHT (FEW DRINKS!)LUANG PRABANG AIRPORT IS PROBABLY SMALLEST AIRPORT I HAVE EVER SEEN-NO HIGH SECỦRITY HẺRE!YOU COULD CHECK A HANDGUN IN YOUR HANDLUGGAGE BUT HAD TO PUT YOUR MOBILE IN STOWED LUGGAGE!I WAS NERVOUS ENOUGH-THEN I SAW OUR PLANE-OH MY GOD PROPELLERS!

SURVIVED THE FLIGHT AND ARRIVED IN VIENTIANE

WED 24 VIENTIENE

WE GAVE THE PROSTHETICS TRIP A MISS AND HỈRED 2 BIKES TO ẼXPLORE.COST US A DOLLAR.AFTER REJECTING 2 BIKES DUE TO BALD TYRES AND NO BRAKES WE WERE OFF.VIENTIANE IS FAIRLY FLAT AND EASY TO NAVIGATE-NEED WITS ABOUT YOU-NOONE ABIDES BY RULES.WRONG SIDE OF RD,UP PAVEMENTS,UP ONE WAY STREETS WRONG WAY,NO LEFT TURNS,NO RIGHT TURNS-THEY IGNORE THEM ALL! AFTER SEVERAL NEAR MISSES (AND SOME CHOICE LANGUAGE FROM ME!)WE DECIDED TO COOL OFF IN THE WATER PARK.ONE OF THE GIRLS IN OUR GROUP SMÁSHED HER HEAD COMING DOWN A SLIDE AND BLACKED OUT-THANKFULLY SHE WAS OK AFTER TRIP TO HOSPITAL.

IN THE EVENING 8 ÒF ÚS WENT BOWING-GOOD LAUGH AND VERY CHEAP

THUR 25

TODAY WAS NOT A GÔOD DAY.VERY LONG JOURNEY ON BUS OVER VERY VERY BUMPY RDS.MIMI AND I HAD BEEN DREADING THE HOMESTAY AS WE HAD HEARD VARIOUS TALES FROM OTHER TRAVELLERS.WE ARRIVED AT BAN TABAK VILLAGE SET BY THE RIVER NAM THEUN.MIMI THREW HER TOYS OUT OF THE PRAM AND WAS VERY UPSET.THE VILLAGE HAD ELECTRICITY AND A WESTERN TOILET-BUT NO SHOWER AT ALL.THE WASHING FACILITY WAS AN OUTSIDE TAP.IT WAS SURROUNDED BY CHICKENS,DUCKS,TURKEYS AND DOGS.NOT HAPPY WITH INTREPID AS WHEN WE BOOKED THEY SAID WE WOULD HAVE AT LEAST A COLD SHOWER.WE EXPECTED TO ROUGH IT BUT AFTER 6-7 HOURS ON A BUS,FOLLOWED BY 12 HOURS ON THE BUS THE NEXT DAY-TOO LONG TO GO WITHOUT A SHOWER!NO POINT COMPLAINING-NO WHERE ELSE TO STAY AND NOT MELS FAULT.THE VILLAGE WAS HOWEVER VERY BEAUTIFULL AND THE PEOPLE HAPPY AND FRIENDLY TOWARDS US.THE KIDS WERE HAPPY WHEN I GAVE THEM A FOOTBALL AND GAVE ME FLOWERS!WE WENT ON A B52 BOAT-MADE FROM FUEL CASÍNGS FROM US PLANES.AMAZING SCENERY.OUR GUIDE COOKED AN AMAZING DINNER FỎR US-WE ALL RETIRED EARLY AS EARLLY START.IT RAINED HEAVILY DỦING THE NIGHT AND THE COCKERELS WERE UP EARLY-AT LEAST NO BITES AS USED MOSQUITO NETS.OUR BÚ COULDNT GET UP THE HILL OF THE VILLAGE WITH US IN IT SO WE HAD TO WALK TO MAIN RD

CROSSED OVER INTO VIETNAM AND YET MORE BUMPY RDS.TO TOP IT ALL ỎUR DRIVER IS DRIVING TOO FAST AND IS DANGEROUS.

1845 ARRIVED AT NINH BINH HOTEL

NO LIFTS,TOMORROW CAN ONLY GET BETTER! HEADING TO HALONG BAY