Hello All,

Once again it's time for an update as everything slowly is coming to an end...I come back to England this month (sob)!

We're now in Laos, just above Thailand, for a week or so before we head across to Vietnam for the final stretch of the trip.

We arrived a few days ago, and have had the most amazing first few days. From Pai (Thailand), we got a bus up to Chiang Khong where you just hop on a little boat for a minutes journey to cross the border into Laos. Funny thinking about a whole new language and currency just over the road! Annoying though, we barely got our head around the Thai Baht before we left and now a whole new bloody currency to think about.

Anyway, we spent the day spending all our money on visas, withdrawing money and then handing over our 'souls' as Olivia would say, to the (MONEY STEALING) Gibbon Experience. For those who are unsure of what 'The Gibbon Experience' is, I will explain:

THE MOST AMAZING FEW DAYS OF YOUR LIFE! THAT'S WHAT! The next 2 1/2 days were spent in the depths of the Laos Jungle. We woke up early in the morning and met at the Gibbon Experience office for the 'safety' video (which consisted of a Lao lady showing us what was 'good' and 'not good'...although we were all sure the video was wrong) and meeting the people we'd be spending the next few days with. We all hopped on the back of a truck which took us for a drive for a couple of hours to reach the start of the trek. We were dropped in a village to pick up any supplies (like beer, which i didn't want to carry so I left without!), and we spoke to a group who had just finished the experience.

"So, have you got any long trousers?"
"No."
"Oh, erm, what about socks...there are a lot of leeches?"
"No, no socks...I only have flip flops."
"No trainers then?"
"No...Fizz doesn't even have any shoes!"
"NO SHOES?"

Ok, so we're not the MOST prepared bunch but we knew we'd be fine. Beige trekkers or no beige trekkers, we knew they were over-reacting!
And we were off (not before standing and watching an interesting turkey fight. Perculiar)...we walked for maybe an hour, so not too long thank god, but almost all of it was uphill...and we all know how much I hate uphill walking! So naturally, I nearly died near the back of the group whilst the machines (Fizz - barefoot and shocking yet again, everyone around her 'she's climbed a volcano, a mountain and now the jungle bare foot!') trudged on ahead.

We arrived (FINALLY) at a kitchen where they prepared our meals everyday. We were there for half an hour (quick power nap), watching the guides make shot glasses out of bamboo (so cool!). Then another quick walk after whacking on our harnesses and we were at our first zipwire. That's correct, the next few days we'd be zipwiring through the jungle! The first wire went directly into Treehouse number 1, our treehouse! It looked amazing, so TREEHOUSEY! One by one we flew in, detattatched ourselves and explored. There were 3 levels; an upstairs, pretty much open with a double bed 'chill out' area, down one floor was the kitchen and social area, and down another were 2 more beds and our open bathroom. You shower looking out at the jungle and the toilet was one of those horrid squatty ones...but with a hole you look straight down on (provided much entertainment...).

Anyway, we were all very excited and headed off for a zip around...there was quite a lot of walking involved to get to each one but it was worth it. The first couple were fun but fairly tame - just there to get from a - b...but then we went on a longer one...you zip through the jungley bit and past that and there is the most amazing view of the jungle! Goes on for ages and was even better at sunset.

After a bit more zipping, we went back for dinner. Unfortunately, the food wasn't great. At all. Tasted like salt and that was about it. Needless to say, I didn't eat well for the next few days. I'm missing cereal and mash and beans and roast dinners! We 'ate' with a couple we met, and then we all went for a zip to their treehouse to check it out, with Drew, a volunteer who worked there (lucky man!). Carl brought along his bottle of whiskey and Drew brought the bamboo shot glasses, and even though 'we try not to encourage drinking and zipping'...that was exactly what they did. After a fun chat for half an hour or so, it was getting dark so we thought we should leave. Armed with our (new) headtorches (mine is ridiculously oversized), we zipped in the pitch black all the way home which was so fun! We continued the night with music, more drinking on the boys part and ovaltine drinking on the girls, swinging in the hammock, and enjoying the full moon lighting the whole sky. I slept really well (THANK YOU EAR PLUGS) but no-one else did really. Was fun though!

5.30am we were all awake for our morning trek to try and spot gibbons. We zipped through the jungle mist (very refreshing) and walked for about half an hour on the hunt. As fun as falling over a lot in the mud was, we didn't actually catch any gibbons. So yay. We went home to bed again. And a poo salty breakfast of rice.

We were picked up by our guides later that morning to trek around and visit the other treehouses. My god it was a long walk, but was nice to have a break every now and again at the luxury treehouses! You can even drink from the tap there, mountain water! Or something.
The walk was, once again, UPHILL (I can't wait for one that is purely downhill, then i'm happy!). Anyway, i'm going to be a hot babe when i get back after all this walking! LEGS OF STEEL! Back to this though, ermm, yeah we walked and zipped and ate lunch (once again, didn't eat) and then chilled because we were all so knackered. It's so nice just reading lying on the hammock in the sunset! Early night that night!

I skipped the morning trek the next day. I've seen monkey's. I like sleep. Also our cat (yes, they give you a cat) was all curled up in bed with me which was nice. As we were leaving today, everyone was keen for one last zip around. We were told to be ready for 9.30am, but being the rebs we are, at 9.15am we put on our harnesses and gloves (well, one glove one sock), armed with our cameras and ran away! Or...zipped away. Either way we left...gutted w***ers! I was getting a bit cocky on the zip by now and several times forgot to break (caught on camera)!

When we got back to the treehouse, we said our final goodbyes and took some photos and we were off :( Walked back down to the village and that was it. End. 190 POUND!!!

When we got back to whatever town we were in (funny names here), we decided to get the next bus out and down to Luang Prabang (where we are now). A nice over-night 14hour journey and we were here, and checked into what has been THE WORST HOTEL I'VE EVER STAYED IN. And i've stayed in some shoddy places. This one seemed ok to begin with, but then...one light worked...i had to read using a torch because it was so dark, there was no running water because for some reason they turn it off during the day (no tap no shower no toilet flush no BUMSHOWER!), the plug sockets didn't work so we couldn't charge anything (olivia even tried sellotaping the plug in...still didn't work). So basically, IT WAS RUBBISH! We were all tired from the journey so had a nap after an explore around the town). That evening we walked down to the river and had a really nice dinner in a fairly posh, but cheap, restaurant. Played some cards, watched everyone drink some bad tasting wine...great! Then, our weakness, NIGHTMARKETS! So great for souvieniers and STUFF FOR ME! MWAHAHA! Unfortunately, I did try get some money out earlier that day and realised that I HAD NONE. Woopsie!

This morning, we checked out of the scabby hotel and checked into a really nice room, air con, tv, big bathroom, two double beds for less than 50p more. Yay! We've just rented push bikes (don't worry ma, i'm sitting on the back..don't want a repeat of last time!) so will go for a ride and sit somewhere and chill.

So, that's it! We're leaving tomorrow (I think) to go and do the famous TUBING! Which is basically floating down the river and getting very drunk..it's been a while since we've had a good party!

SO BYE NOW! Hope England is cold and rainy :)