So I'm getting a little behind with these.. Laos might be an entire trip blog rather than a day by day.

Rewind a few days...

It's our final full day in Chiangmai, and Thailand today. I can't believe today is only Day 4- we have jam packed so much in to our days that it feels like we have been here for at least twice as long. I am absolutely shattered, but having so much fun!!
We initially planned to spend a night in Chiangrai -however crossing the border from Chiangrai to Luang Prabang Laos was going to be a 20-24 bus ride so we instead decided we would just do a day trip instead.

Unfortunately it's a 3 1/2 hour trip each way so our pick up time was 0700hrs. It's the first time on this trip that I a) haven't woken up, wide awake at 0500 and b) have had to wake up to an alarm. I could have easily slept another few hours- despite the fact that my bed is like a slab of concrete and my pillow could kill someone it was so cozy and I was so sleepy!

The trip up was interesting. I thought tuk Tuks were scary, weaving in an out of traffic. Try a mini van going at 120kph!!!! Not surprising then that we managed to hit another vehicle! Actually it was more of a scrap.. Resulting from the popular 'overtake and nip back in' manoeuvre in Thailand. We were then treated to a loud and animated exchange, none of which we understood- obviously- and then a swapping of photographs (thank god for smartphones) for insurance purposes. The tour leader and driver then returned to the vehicle stating 'he crazy man' and we continues on our way.

Our first official stop was the hot springs. Why anyone would want to go swimming in hot pools in this heat (35 degrees today- 38 yesterday!!!) I don't know, but we took our togs anyway- just incase. Turns out the hot springs was actually 2 guisers spraying out of the ground and smelt a lot like Rotorua! Mmmmm sulphar!! There was no swimming.

We then continued north to Asia's Golden triangle. The Golden Triangle is one of Asia's two main opium-producing areas. It is an area of around 367,000 square miles (950,000 km2) that overlaps the mountains of three countries of Southeast Asia: Myanmar, Laos and Thailand. It has been one of the most extensive opium-producing areas of Asia and of the world since the 1920s. Most of the world's heroin came from the Golden Triangle until the early 21st century when Afghanistan became the world's largest producer.

Here we took a boat trip on the might Mekong river... We proceeded down a make shift ramp. I'm sure it was great back in the dark ages, but now it's rusty, only attached at 3 corners and partially underwater. And the water of the Mekong river is not water I wanted to be touching. Bright orange and thick! Ewwww!! Our little river boat was quite nice and got us safely from a (Thailand) to b (Myanmar/Burma) to c (Laos, where we got a sneak preview of what's to come) and back to a.
We spent half an hour in Laos- passports are not required for this trip, and as long as we were back on the boat within half an hour it was completely legit. The same cant be said for Myanmar so we were unable to leave the boat. We did however carry on up to the boarder later on in the day and spend a bit of time in (area between). The boarder crossing was chaotic and there were police everywhere checking cars for drug trafficking- apparently it's quite popular. Jazmin and I were approached by two other travellers (male, American) wanting to know if we were crossing the boarder- images of Claire Danes in Brokedown Palace went flashing through mind! I'm sure it was an innocent request but it would seem that Hollywood has created a state of travelling fear for me! Probably a good thing though- can never be too cautious or suspicious of others around here. Anyway, back to Laos- faux Prada, jimmy choo and dolce and gabana as far as the eye could see. Bottles of whiskey with dead creatures- snakes, lizards and Scorpions- just for that extra oomph!!! Anorexic looking animals. And 5bhat for the toilet-I think I have spent more money on the toilet here than on anything else. I like to think that I have exceptionally good kidneys!!! And honestly, the state of them... All squat toilets, shaped in such a way that there Is quite an art to using them and not just urinate all over your feet. They are flushed using a big bucket and bowl of water. And all toilet paper is placed in the rubbish bin next to the toilet- never flush!!! You can imagine the smell!!!! And depending on the location- the flies!!! Ewwww

Lunch was a buffet- everything from traditional noodle soup to French fries- but we were warned to to take too much as 'take food too much eat not finished- fine 100bhat.' So we finished our food!!!

Our last stop for the day was a visit to the 'long neck Karen.' A village of people well known for their amazing arts and crafts as well as their traditional decoration of layer upon layer of gold coloured rings that they place around their neck. Initially they start with only a few rings and increase as their neck length allows over time. All females, toddlers to the elderly we're sitting around with these rings on their neck. There is no religious or spiritual belief behind the use of these rings, it is purely just for decoration and seems to make them a decent amount of money through tour group visiting. It was interesting to see and they were all very beautiful but the place made me feel very uncomfortable, almost like it was the freak viewing tent at the circus. Therefore I didn't take any photos. Some of the younger girls looked so unhappy, constantly being asked for photos.
Their arts and craft however were beautiful. Many of them were weaving using their traditional (insert name). Others were selling beautiful Thai silks- I bought a gorgeous pink and gold shawl type thing. Didn't consider the weight of it though- dammit!!! It is quite heavy and not compact. Rearrangement of Hun pack has been necessary!

As we were leaving the village the heavens looked like they were ready to open, luckily for us though they didn't until almost back in Chiangmai- I don't know if I would have been able to cope with the guides driving in poor weather conditions. Once the rain started it was torrential and the roads seemed to immediately empty- all the scooters were parked on the side of these road, their drivers all huddled together in the closest shelter waiting of the rain to stop. Those who braved it barely made it out alive, we saw one scooter- with what seemed to be an entire family on it, skid over in the wet. Sparks went flying. They all got up and ran to the side of th road to avoid any other traffic. Many of the scooter drivers/passengers don't take safety precautions such as protective clothing and helmets, preferring umbrellas and jandals instead. Those who do wear helmets tend to be the drivers, and interestingly those who do die in scooter accidents most frequently do as a result of their heads hitting the helmet of the person in from of them than it does as a result of contact with the road or other traffic.

Anyway, that's enough on Changrai. We did visit the white temple- stunning- there will be photos.

Love you all
Xxx