Didn't have the best nights sleep. We're in a really quiet area, but we're staying in like a wooden chalet type place so you can still hear anything that is going on outside. There was a young kid who was really crying last night and woke us up a few times. Seemed to be coming from the house next door. I remember looking at the time and it was 4.30am. Sounded like a really poorly kid actually so we tried not to be too annoyed...

Got talking to a guy from Australia down at breakfast. I was wanting some recommendations on things to do here. He'd actually only got here last night himself, so he knew about as much as us. He was travelling with a small group of friends - they all used to work together in Abu Dhabi so are having a bit of a reunion. They were from all over the world as well, not sure what they worked as. They'd all been out last night drinking 3 Litre Towers of BeerLao, each one of them came down at different times with a sore head. Had a good chat with those guys and got some info from one of the Australians called Corey. He told us about a big festival on New Years Eve that we should get tickets for. He also gave us his number and told us to get in touch with him if we go and meet up! Amazing how friendly people are when travelling, it really is.

We decided we'd go see Kuang Si Waterfalls today. The weather is perfect as well - clear blue skies, really warm but not humid! So happy to see sun!
We'd looked into different ways of getting there like organised tours, but decided we should just get a tuk-tuk there. There's plenty of them about and we were collared by one straight away. 40,000 Kip each it was, but we bartered him down to 70,000 Kip (£5.50) for 2. He said to come back in 30 minutes and also to try help him recruit some more people. We asked a couple of people but most had already been. Then the tuk-tuk guy was over the road trying to get two people to come. I started waving over and shouting come on the waterfall trip but they'd already booked with another tuk-tuk. Then I just thought what the hell am I doing trying to get people to come, it's not my problem, haha! So we went for a short wander.
It was an hour before we actually set off! Turned out it was in my interest to recruit people because he was stalling setting off until he got 6 people! We got off eventually anyway...

On the way we asked the driver to stop off at Joma Bakery so that we could get a sandwich for a mini picnic at the waterfalls. Took them about 15 minutes to make two flipping sandwiches. We felt really bad on the other guys having to wait for us but they seemed alright about it. They just said don't worry, we're on "Lao Time" now...very laid back people! There were two guys from Spain and a couple from England so was chatting to them about all their travels. The falls are around 26km away from Luang Prabang so it took about 35 minutes to get there, bouncing around on a tuk-tuk and crossing lots of bridges - scenery was obviously brilliant as well.

It cost 20,000 Kip (£1.70) to get into the waterfall area. Then there's a nice nature trail to walk on, which passes by a bear sanctuary. We could see the bears but they weren't very active, only occasionally walking around - nice to see anyway. Then a little bit further we could start to hear the waterfalls. It was a nice walk through the "jungle" and then we saw the first small waterfall and pool. It's really nice and has a turquoise colour and the surroundings are lovely. We carried on walking further passing lots of pools and falls - absolutely beautiful area. Then we got to the main waterfall which is pretty high (couldn't tell you how high) and again, really beautiful.
Then we made the climb up the side of the waterfall. It's a steep climb and can be quite slippy in flip-flops. There are some parts with stone steps and there's another that is wood - that looked really nice in itself. It's like a mini waterfall coming around and down the sides of the stairs. Took us about 20 minutes to get to the top...and the views were fantastic. We walked along the very top of the waterfall through the pools and stood right in the middle looking out into the distance at the mountains covered in lush greenery with huge palm trees popping out here and there. It's such a lovely place and this is the type of thing that we want to see. Feels like you're in a jungle in the middle of nowhere.
We started our climb down and got talking to an American woman who's doing a lot of travelling and she was telling us about how South America is her favourite place...Therese is slowly being convinced that we need to go to South America by all the people we keep talking to : )

Time for a dip. We got into one of the pools where most people go to that has a rope swing. We got in and it was freezing! Although before long it felt quite warm. There's little fish in there too that nibble on your feet! There were loads of people having a go on the rope swing so I had a go - really deep where you land as well. It was nice and refreshing and really lovely just sat in the pool watching the waterfalls.

We had such a good time and it's hard to describe how nice it is - google it. We headed back at about 3.45pm and had a few more people on the tuk-tuk. There were three people who had cycled here...! It took them two hours on the winding hilly roads, and they said there was no way they'd be able to cycle back. Glad we didn't do that!

When we got back into town, the market was just starting up and there were little stalls selling fresh fruit smoothies for 5,000 Kip (45p). The fruit and veg at the markets in these south-east Asian countries looks lovely and so fresh and colourful. There wasn't that much to see at the Market yet so we decided to come back later on and strolled back to our guesthouse.

Therese got a message from Johanna and Therese (our friends from Sweden that we met in China) saying they are in Vang Vieng for 4 nights, which is where we are going next. We're going to catch up with them for their last night - we're really looking forward to meeting up with them again!!

After getting showered etc and lathering ourselves in mossie spray, we walked back to the Market. It's a really good Market selling lots of really nice and clever arts and crafts. We've got our eyes on a few paintings that we might buy and ship home. The Market is huge too.

After wandering around there, we went to find a restaurant that one of the Aussie guys back at the guesthouse had recommended. Lao Lao Garden it's called. It kind of didn't look much at the front, but we went in anyway and are so glad we did. It's on like a few sloping levels with a terrace at the top, and there lots of trees and really soft lighting, mostly candle light. Its a lovely setting. We also went for his food recommendation, Lao BBQ. Glad we did that too, really different. It's actually a bit like a hot pot. First, they get a big clay bucket filled with red hot coals and that goes into the middle of the table. Then, imagine a big version of a dog's water bowl upside down. That goes on top of the clay bucket and then vegetable stock goes in the "moat" and then the meat cooks out of the water on the "island". We had chicken and water buffalo which is lovely. Then we had all kinds of vegetables and noodles that boil in the water and then you crack a couple of eggs into the water and just let it all cook. It was a really nice meal and only cost 78,000 Kip (about £6).

They have a couple of little camp fires going with seating around them, so we after our meal we took our beers and went to relax there. We quickly got chatting to a few different people, in particular we met a really nice couple from Surfer's Paradise in Australia, called Mel and Paul. They've given us there contact details and even offered us a room for the night when we hit Oz next year, which is really nice!
There was also a hilarious local guy there who's lived in lots of different countries around the world since he was young. He had lots of funny stories to tell.
There was also another local guy who came over whilst me and Paul were talking. He was one of the campiest people I have ever seen. He was asking where we are going tonight and how long we are here etc etc, then asked if me and him were travelling "together"...as in together!! I said "no, no, no I'm travelling with my girlfriend who is just across there". At which point I went to the toilet and left Paul with him...he wasn't there when I got back!

We had a really good time in there but a lot of things close quite early in Luang Prabang, so we were getting kicked out at about 11.30pm.
Then, outside, we briefly spoke to 2 young Canadian guys and a Singaporean girl and the next thing we were on a Jumbo (tuk-tuk) heading for Dao Fa Nightclub!! Took us about 10-15 minutes to get there. Got in the club and it was pretty big with some good club music playing and quite a lot if people. Got some big BeerLaos in and hit the dance-floor. The party didn't last that long though because the lights came on, the music went off and it was closing time. We had about half an hour of music and then another 30 minutes finishing our drinks - still had a really good laugh with our little group.

Our tuk-tuk guy was still waiting for us outside. We'd asked him to wait for us, but I was still surprised to see him there. The 3 people we met got some street food before we went - noodle soup. We weren't hungry - still full from our Lao BBQ.
We made it back to town and exchanged contact details on the way with our new clubbing friends - watch out for pictures.

Made it to bed for about 2pm...