Another 5.45 get up for breakfast at 6.00 and on the boat at 7.00. Really cold with. The hills covered in mist blocking the sunshine. Spent the first three hours huddled under blankets as we made progress down river towards Luang Prabang where we will spend the next three nights. We are being served traditional Lao food by the boat owners and visiting some caves on the way. We should arrive at Luang Prabang before dark. Now 1230 and just had lunch. Back to shirt ...

WELL WE'VE MADE IT OVER THE BORDER IN THE RECORD TIME OF ONE AND A HALF HOURS. THERE WAS A VERY SMALL CHAP WHO PUSHED IN THE QUEUE TO PAY FOR THE VISA, (FOR THOSE OF YOU EHO DONT KNOW ME I CAN'T ABIDE QUEUE JUMPERS) BUT I FIGURED AS HE WAS SO SMALL I WOULD BE ABLE TO ELBOW HIM OUT OF THE WAY BUT HE WAS NIFTIER THAN I THOUGHT AND SIDE STEPPED MY SWIPE BEAUTIFULLY. HOWEVER THERE WAS A LOUD CHEER OF DELIGHT FROM ME WHEN HE DISCOVERED HE'D BEEN JUMPING THE WRONG QUEU...

Had a Thai massage this morning.....first one for nine months. The Thai lady who did me had hands like vices and stood less than five foot tall. He'll did it hurt. Hopefully it will have got rid of all the aches & pains built up after the flight. She seemed to find every muscle that hurt and focused her full attention on it. Forget the death penalty, just put this lady on the case. For the record, Ruth had a foot massage! Spent an achy morning at the Chaing M...