Did you know that Laos is the most bombed country in history? Despite that and the people having relatively little, the kids don't cry and seem happy and everyone is laid back, calm, friendly and helpful. It really feels like a magical place. After the initial unexpected most uncomfortable boat in the world, and once I got used to Laos Time, which is considerably slower than time in the rest of the universe, I really fell in love with the place. Luan Prabang was a really nice town with great food and markets. After a few days there hanging around with people I met on the slow boat I got the bus down to Vang Viene. The road to get there rivals Bolivia's most dangerous road in the world. Although it's mostly tarmaced, the road is cut into the mountainside with very large drops off the side. Not only did I fear for my life but hair pin bend after hair pin bend made me feel very sea sick and I was relieved to get there. There are tiny houses made from bamboo perched on the side of the road and mountain and the scenery was dramatic and beautiful. There were cows, goats, pigs and chickens along the road and kids waving at the bus. I sat next to a man from Korea who made dogs etc out of balloons for the kids and he made me a flower - rather random but lovely, I don't think the kids had ever seen balloons before, certainly not flower and dog shaped balloons. I am always amazed at how much it is possible to get onto a moped. We saw whole families, their dog and week's shopping perched onto a single bike. Vang Viene was even more laid back and a cool place to be with lots of bars with cushions on the floor that you lounge on while watching Friends, the Simpsons or a film. A big group of us went tubing for an afternoon which was a brilliant laugh. You sit in a big rubber ring and float down the river stopping at shack bars which have rope swings into the river and platforms on the side of the river where you can sit and enjoy your beer. Today I traveled down to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. It's a bigger town with more proper buildings but lots of greenery and still has the same relaxed feel about it. Next I'm flying to Siem Reap in the north of Cambodia which should be equally amazing. Later Josiex