5.30pm and we arrive at Luang Prabang...at long last! Now when the Thai or Laos people say slow, they mean slow. It's a 'slow' I have never experienced. But it definitely teaches one to be patient that's for sure. Lucy and I jumped in a tuk tuk and headed to Spicy Lao - another 'Spicy' backpackers chain. It's a simple hostel, hard beds and not very secure, with no doors or security key to get into the hostel. But at least they had small lockers to keep valuables in. We were in a dorm of 10, and met a few South African people (one rather big headed) but the girl was lovely and a girl called Natasha who is from London. We walked around the Night Market which was cool. All the items were on the floor this time, no stools or anything but everything seemed authentic here. So many lovely household items too, I would have loved to buy some and sent them home. On our way around we bumped into the South Americans and the Swiss girls so had some street food together and headed to a bar called Utopia which was down by the river. It was crazy cool there, I loved it. So chilled out and relaxed - a volley ball court, trees, tables and chairs make from tree stumps and floor cushions. Outside was dimly lit with candles whilst the English music was on in the background, it was a great atmosphere, although entirely filled with tourists. Unfortunately everywhere closes in the town at 11.30pm, so we headed straight to bed for an early night. Tuesday morning we had breakfast with a few people from our hostel, strolled around the town and experienced an hour long Loas massage for 40,000kip. (Confusing having to change currency as I was just getting used to converting baht into pounds but its £3.10) I enjoyed it, but Lucy didn't! We then met the South African group and Swiss girls at to climb a up to a temple to watch the sunset. It was busy up there, seems like everyone had the same idea! We then grabbed some buffet street food - eat as much as you like for just 10 000 kip (that's £0.77!) Was great! Then we had to return to Utopia again, it was such a cool place and great atmosphere. It was really busy this time, and I ended up bumping into lots of people who I met in Chiang Mai and Pai. Great to catch up with them and find out what they have been up to. When we got kicked out the bar, we headed to this "discotec" place - mental. Trance music, a load of Lao people in the club, not dancing, and a few random foreigners dancing away! So we had a little dance and when we got kicked out of that, we headed to the famous 'bowling alley' (managed to fit in about 8 people in a tiny tuk tuk which was an experience). The bowling alley was simply a bright white hall with 11 bowling lanes and a load of drunk foreigners. Interesting let's say, and I got frustrated as I was terrible at bowling. I got many 0's and one strike! Then it was bed time!

We had a day at the Kuang Si Falls - it was incredible. Crystal clear water, if a little on the cold side, but great fun jumping in and swinging off a rope! There was a giant waterfall further up, so we headed there for some photos. We (South American guys, Lucy, Natasha and I) then took a private minivan to Vang Viene at 10pm. It was meant to take about 5-7 hours so we thought we could save on a nights accommodation and we wouldn't miss out on a day getting there as some buses were taking up to 9-10hours to get there so we thought minivan would be the safest option. Brenda was ill, and the roads we drove on really did not help in the slightest. If you can imagine the bumpiest gravel track with over 180 degree road turns every 2 seconds, well that's what it was like! A roller coaster for 5 solid hours. Not fun! And I couldn't really sleep either! Not a fun journey at all. We arrived at 4am, not having booked anywhere. We didn't quite realise how quiet and small the town was, and the hostel where we thought we would try first didn't have a 24 hour reception. Luckily the minivan driver spoke a bit of English and called another hostel to check if they had rooms. Thank god they did! So he took us there and we paid 40 000 each (£3.11) for 2 people per room with private bathroom, a mosquito net and a fan! It was fab! Had a great night's sleep.

The next day, Thursday December, we walked around the centre, bumped into people from our hostel in Luang Prabang, did a bit of shopping and found another place to stay which was further in the centre of the city so we didn't have to walk anywhere J A place called Central Backpackers. It was pretty chilled, we grabbed some food and went to the Irish bar that evening where everyone seemed to be hanging out. Played a bit of pool and grabbed a free cocktail.

Friday was Tubing at midday! We moved into Central backpackers and headed out tubing. It was fairly chilled, grabbed a rubber dingy, jumped in a tuk tuk and headed to the river. I went with guys we met in Luang Prabang, Lucy, Natasha and Rodrigo joined us too (the others went later as they were sleeping, a common hobby of theirs!) It was great fun just chatting and floating down the river. Think I got a little sun stroke as I felt really drained, no energy, and was burning up...so headed to bed and slept from about 5pm! I definitely needed the sleep. I haven't really rested yet or taken a day out just to do nothing so I think no sleep, lots of socialising, and no rest - it all caught up on me!

Saturday 8 December, a group of 12 of us went kayaking, caving! It was 80 000 kip and we went in a cave in a tube with a head torch. The cave was massive and went really far! We all turned our headlights off in the cave! Then we had some rice, bread and a kebab with pineapple, chicken and a few other veg. We jumped into a kayak and headed downstream! It was good fun! We got back at 3pm and then chilled and sorted a few things out! And now here I am updating my blog J chilling with an aussie couple we met tubing and did our adventure day today with. They're both pretty relaxed and good laugh- have been travelling for 6 months already!

Tomorrow Lucy and I will jumping on a bus and heading to Vietiene.

Will keep you updated J

xx