Up at 11:15 this morning and I was on the boat over to check in with immigration in Laos by nine. Torrential rain all morning. The slow boat down the Mekong to Pak Beng took 8 hours; quite uncomfortable, given the crappy wooden chairs. Although, I was hanging off the side with my feet in the river most of the time, as I had started on the Berr Lao before leaving the dock and by finish I had drank about four litres of the s*** - well gunned. I could still focus on the views, though: rugged green terrrain elevating from both side of the river, reminded me of Jurassic Park or something. I got me some quality shots. On arrival in Pak Beng I was offered weed and opium. I chose not to buy anything at this point until I got my bearings and had assessed the situation. Good things come to those who........ After checking in at a guest house and going for a short walk (Pak Beng IS a short road) me and a few of the girls went out for dinner. I staggered back to the guest house, where a few joints were going round and managed to jam my head in the rotation. I started chatting to some Irish boys, Mark and Seamus, who I had seen getting of the boat earlier looking pretty damn drug f***ed: Seamus had been on the valium and passed out leaning across the isle. When everyone had gone to bed (eletricity in the town was turned off at ten, as it was ran on generators) I asked the boys could I join them for a smoke, which they accepted. No lights and just candles. No fans just sweat. The sound of nature. The boys had been smoking opium, and were expecting more to be delivered, but were incapable of rolling, so I did the honours. A few bifters in and after a twenty minute discussion on communism there was a shady knock at the window. "It's yr maan" Nice piece, about the size and look of a quarter of squidgy black - US$20. Opium pipe out, we were all smoking (it'll take some time to get used to the paraphernalia). It's like being high without the heavy and you feel "easy" inside and out. complete relaxation. Damn good s***. After a few pipes each, and the last of the candles going I felt my way back to my room in the pitch dark, high as a mother f*cker. I'll would have no problems sleeping tonight, anyway.