What an Australia Day I've had!!! We left Luang Prabang after breakfast and headed out on the windy hills into Xiang Khouang Province towards Phonsavan. Xiang Khouang province in the northeast of the country is characterized by lush green mountains and Karst limestone. The capital, Phonsavan, enjoys a favorable climate being at an altitude of 1200m.

About 2 hours into the trip we heard a LOUD bang and then metal scrapping down the bitumen road…..yes a wheel had fallen off our bus in the middle of nowhere!!! Everyone got off to survey the damage and even to my non-mechanical eyes things did not look good – the bolts had sheared off completely. Multiple phone calls (thank god for mobiles) later spare parts were located and we had to sit by the side of the road and wait for the delivery. Another 2 hours passed and our bums were numb – banana leaves don’t give much cushioning- getting hungry by now and running out of drinking water. Not a particularly happy group of ladies …then woo hoo the spare parts arrived. By this time some locals had appeared from somewhere and as 5 men looked at the parts and then the wheel we got the impression that this was going to be guess work….another hour passed and we were back on the road. Had lunch at a lovely little village called Kiewkashan including a nice cold beer and we were ready to continue our journey. About 20 minutes later we were heading DOWN a hill only to find yet another strange grating noise coming from under the bus and lo and behold we had no brakes!!!

Our poor guide was beside himself and offering profuse apologies but we all just laughed it off and said well at least the driver managed to stop before going over the cliff side, we were all safe so just chill out and wait for another bus. No problems mate!!! He finally smiled as we had just taught him another great English phrase!!!

FINALLY after nearly 12 hours (of a trip was meant to take about 5) travelling we arrived in Phonsavan. The hotel had prepared a delightful dinner for us and had cold beer…what more could us Aussies want??? Our Canadian and Danish friends wished us a happy Australia Day and we all decided it was one we will never forget!!

Great little hotel we stayed at who have put the ordinance/bomb parts to good use – garden decorations, room decorations and even our room key holder. The hotel itself looks like something out of Gone with the Wind just in a little town that looks like they forgot to finish it.

Well I’m exhausted so it’s off to bed for me after a very eventful day and I will continue my tale tomorrow. Xx