Helo there all, well we left the mighty cambodia and took a flight to Laos north to its capital of Vientiane. For a capital there aint much going on as the city aint much cop but we had a wonder around and took in some of the sights. the next morning we take the bus north to the next destination Vang Vieng. Now this is a backpacker hub if i have ever seen one. Basically its a small sleepy town with guest houses and bars and restaraunts, which seem to all have the same menues and play episodes of friends and family guy, so not very traditional laos. The place brings in a large number of backpackers to participate in the famouse and very popular activity of tubing. Basically you hire a tyre ring for a day and float down the nam Song river, but that aint the best part, its lines with bars that throw you a line to pull you in and stock you up with booze. Each bar also has purpose built swings and slides for drunken westeners to throw themselves off. So we hire our ring and are driven 3km up the river to the first bar and have ourselves a drink or two. Into the ring and away, stopping at a few other bars on route down the river. We stop at one that has mud vollyball, so you can imagine how messy that became. Somewhere between diving in the mud, leaving the bar and floating down the river Rachel managed to loose her dress. Then her sunglasses fell off and floated away...not a good day for rachel! It soon turned to 5.30 and we saw the sign for 2km of river to go, but having to get our rings back by 6 we cut the journey short and Tuk Tuk back to the start, having only gone 1km down the river all afternoon! Obviously stopped at too many bars! The next day was a very lazy day and we chilled out most of the day on our guesthouse balcony overlooking the river and the stunning limestone mountain ranges. Laos realy is a stunning place. After our lazy day it was time to get back on the river for our last day tubing. With not so many drinks behind us we stopped off at some of the bars that had the wicked rope swings and after launching myself off several swings we continued down the river determined to get to the end by 6pm. no such look, i think we made it about half way then cut the trip short to get the Tuk Tuk back to the start again. I dont know how people make it to the end as there is hardly any current as it is the dry season. The river at points is also realy low so me and Rachel kept getting beached on rocks. Tubing is the best passtime ever and I think I could spend about a week plodding down the river! We unfortunatly have to leave the following day to travel north to luang Prabang. The mini van picks us up early in the morning and we drive the very windy roads through the mountain path that takes us to this destination. The scenery is breathtaking in this area and I am mezmorised by the lush limestone cliffs and mountains, Its some of the nicest scenery that i have seen on my travels, and to think I wasnt going to come to Laos, what a disapointment that would have been. The minivan drive itself was a bit stressfull as the roads are a bit treacherouse but we did have a very cautiouse driver. I had a local sat next to me, I dont know whether he was hyper on stimulant drink he kept drinking or of a nervouse disposition but he kept fidgeting and at one point grabbed my leg...Saucy. We make it to Luang Prabang in one piece and find a lovely guesthouse for the week. Will let you know what this pretty little town holds in due course. Love lots xxxx