Have now moved on to Vientiane, the capital. Had a very chilled out time in Luang Prabang which is the sleepiest town (much like most of Laos!) All people seem to do is move along the main street from cafe to cafe. Cool but couln't spend any longer there. Bought lots of beautiful silk things at the night market (put our bartering into practice again!) so now my bag doesn't shut! We took the overnight bus to Vientiane last night (along the infamous route 13 -...

After arriving in Laos we met up with katy and kirsty and did a two day trek which was awesome. Spent the first day walking along the river edge and into the forest. We had two guides with us and had our lunch sitting on banana leaves! After lunch we trekked along the river edge where we discovered ... leeches! Luckily we'd all opted for the attractive tucking the trousers into the socks look. Each time we found one on our leg we'd stop (and after a few girly scr...

Have now arrived in Laos. Despite finding out we couldn't get a direct bus from China we made it across the boarder in less than 24hours! It also only took us 5 bus journeys. Our first bus (full of men) took us through the mountain valleys and alongside the river. The scenery was amazing, green tree covered mountains. The villanges are all wooden and most of the houses built on stilts with oxes and pigs walking round unerneath. We saw watermelons growing in the f...