I had the worst bus journey of my life!!! It started in Hanoi around 6pm we were told for $35 we would get the V.I.P express bus to Vientiane which they said wouldnt stop to pick up people and take 18 hours instead of 24! well we got to the coach park and our bus was like a f***ing cargo bus full of bags of we don't no what under nearly everyseat bags were put on the roof and it was packed with people i couldn't put my feet down i had to sit sideways luckily i invested in a pillow! i could sleep most of the way!! Im sure those big bags were when drugs we stopped at around 2am in the middle of vietnam for "Dinner" and when we got back on the bus half the stuff had gone! we got back on the bus for another 4 hours then stopped at the border and had to wait nearly an hour for it to open what a dodgy place between laos and vietnam! they charge $1 for everything any kind of tax and stamp! we finally got through the border after about 1 hour and it took another 9 hours to get to the capital! i've need needed a massage and a shower as much as i did then! but at least we lived through it and finally got to laos!!!!

Vientiane

The capital of Laos. Probably the smallest capital in the world so quiet and peaceful only 300'000 people live here it is rite on the mekong and is absoulutly beatiful everyone is so friendly! (so glad to get out of vietnam!) we realised it more than ever when we arrived here!

We walked around the center of town and every little guest house and hotel was booked up so we ended up in a $30 hotel a bit of luxery for once!! was nice for 2 nigths! teh girls were shattered by the time they finally checked in so they stayed in for the night i went out exploring...Walking along the mekong was lovely then just chilled out in a restaurant!

The next day we were up and early and we rented out bikes to go around the city. We went to the arc de triumph (pased on the paris one but never finished) it was nice views of the city but they turned it basically into shop stools on every level..after the arc we rode up to the massive gold temple was really nice but ive done enough temples now to last me a life time so didn't stay too long! we rode around the town some more and then i decided to go off and ride along the mekong was really nice! so peaceful the first asian country where there is no cars beeping!

The next day we decided to go vein vieng as the girls haven't got that long left before thet return to australia so we just gonna speed through laos!(i realise now i could have stayed a whole lot longer maybe a month!)

Vien Vieng

The bus is quick it only takes around 4 hours and its vip at last a comfy bus we arrive there about 3pm and we are to late to go Tubing! we spend the day just chilling in a restaurant and watch endless episodes of friends before going out at night! as good as this country is the whole place shuts down around midnight so there isn't much to do!

The next day were up early and ready for a mental day of tubing! the weather here is pretty bad which is a shame because in the sun it would be unbelievable! We hit the tubes around 10am (they are basically a rubber ring and you float down the river and get off at different bars and just get drunk) the first bar is an organic help the locals place so we do and buy a drink before setting off in the rain down the river!

The water is freezing cold and its raining but we get on with as we know we cant just wait for sunshine! we reach the first bar and there is a flying fox (rope swing - they are on every bar and are great fun until u fall before your meant to and they hurt!) there is also a massive wooden place to jump off ( i decided a front flip was the best i could do, would attemp back but it was too high for me!) on the first and second bar pheobe got extremly hurt falling off even before the swing started and landed on her back (worst bruises ever!!) f***ing funny though!

We set off to the next bar after a few beers and the flying fox got bigger and there was fire to warm up thank god! we stayed for a few more drinks and by the time we were ready to move off everyone was more than merry! we moved on to the third bar still freezing and the flying fox was getting bigger still and after a few drinks everyone thinks there brave so i decided it was a good idea for perrine to get on my back while i swung i made it half way and drop straight on me nuts...was in pain all day and teh next (perrine was fine) it still didnt stop me the next one was even higher!

We reached the forth bar and every was smashed there were about 100 people maybe more at this bar playing football table tennis, volley ball and drinkin a hell of alot... we met some australian blokes that were a good laugh (it so easy to meet people on the tubes) 2 of us decided to hit the fox it was so high! (everyone knows i hate hights) i did it and swung for ages and i think the landing sobered me up!

It got to about half 5 and i decided to head on to back and floating in the river in the freezing cold pissing down with rain is not the brightist idea we've had. I stopped at one more bar just to get hot by the fire and then headed off again about another half hour down the river by this time is was pitch black and i needed a tuk tuk!!! The tuk tuk got 12 of us on there i was hanging on for my life but made it home! that night we carried on into the bars and i've decided vien vieng is probably the best place in the world so chilled but so fun!

The next day pheobe was in pain from her back and nursing a severe hangover... Me and perrine decided to rent bikes and try and find the caves.. we didn't we got lost about 20km and and headed back (it was good exercise so many hills i sweated everything out) we booked our bus for the next day to luangprabang! sad to be leaving but we hav'nt got enough time!(i also had the best massage ever here! only $4)

The bus journey was only 200 Km but took 6 hours as it was up long winding mountains was amazing views but still hate bus's even if they are V.I.P!

Luangprabang

We arrived in Luangprabang in the afternoon and there was a power cut so there was no atm's so no one had any money...Luckily there were these places like an exchange place where you hand in your card and you can get cash back by just a signature (i'm sure it is easy if you have a stolen credit card) the first night we just explore the town and it is very beatiful an amazing little city! We find out that the place to go is the bowling alley surprisingly enough it has a late license open till 2am so every goes there after the discoteque! (strange place bowling, popcorn and beer)

Our only full day in Luangprabang and we get a tour to the elephant park agian i sat on the head of the elephant and rode it was great fun (great animals).

In the afternoon we went to visit a waterfall and it was one of the most amazing i've seen! it is massive! we trekked round it for an hour and a half i walked all he way to the top of the waterfall where there is a rope swing and you can see the whole of the park it was so cool (pics to follow) That evening we spent eating laos food from the market (best food ever better than thai) the massive sausages and sticky rice for $1 were unreal! The girls decided to buy the whole market of all its silk and bags and jewellry (if your a woman its shopping heaven for stuff like that - all hand made)

The next morning (today) was when i had to leave laos and i am really gutted i didn't stay longer but its too late now i can come back! i didn't fancy a 12 hour bus trip to vientiane so i decided to fly there in 40 minutes! The girls flew direct to bangkok early morning and i wanted to take a different route.

I've flown back to vientiane in 40 minutes and will catch a train at 6pm tonight all the way to bangkok it takes 12 hours and hopefully will be a good experinece..I'll let you no in my next blog! More pics will be up soon!

With Love!

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