Hi All

After debating whether or not to write a blog, I decided this would be a much easier way to keep everyone up to date - as copy and pasting my facebook messages on a slow internet speed was getting rather annoying.

Currently in an internet cafe in the capital of Laos; Vientiene which we arrived into yesterday afternoon. It's a short stop as we're heading down south this evening at around 7.30pm to make our way to 4000 islands getting ready for our Cambodia crossing. We're taking a night bus (11hrs) to Pakas - the midway point - luckily it has beds on the bus - Dan was extreamly pleased, although he can sleep anywhere!!!! But me and Alex might actually get a few decent hours kip! This is of course if Alex doesn't have one of his mad malaria nightmares - long story, but basically everynight he has woken me up - Dan manages to sleep through - I swear if a earthquake was happening that boy would still be asleep!!! Anyway Alex gets paranoid at bugs, so last night he was sleep walking (his usual antics) and I woke up to him standing infront of the mirror scratching his whole body and looking through his bag saying he lost something. My soothing tones, apparently, of "What are you doing........????!!! Go back to sleep"is all he ever remembers in the morning!

Anyway so just a quick update on the last two weeks, as we have done sooo much. Started in Bangkok, which was pretty much a normal city but more chilled than London. We went to the floating markets, which were amazing all the colours over here are so vibrant! Then went to Tiger Temple where I swear the tigers were drugged!!!!then headed north to Chang Mai on a 13hr nightmare train journey where Dan had to sit to next to the loudest snorer on the planet for 13hrs!!!!! Chang Mai was amazing had the best weekend jungle trekking, it was tough work but well worth it! Sleeping in a hut in a small village and watching the locals cook our dinner. Then we woke up to have a shower in a nearby waterful and carried on the trek to ride elephants and went log rafting.

A few days later we were heading north again to the border for Laos. We were meant to be getting a slow boat, but after being told horror stories of the 11hr 1st day, 8hr 2nd day no seats on the boat story and many others (too long to write) we decided against this and upgraded to a mini bus that was meant to take just 7hrs for the whole trip. Bringing us into Laung Prabang early that evening. Well it was an journey and a half!!! The two mini buses basically thought they were something out of the grand prix and decided to take our lives into their hands by speeding up mountains where the roads were uneven and ever so bendy, tyres screeching, heads and bottoms bumping up and down with every turn as the buses veered near the cliff edge I have to say I was more than a little scared. Especially when night fell and all I could think of was that no one would know if we just rolled down here!!!!

Then the mini bus infront blew two tyres - so we got out in the middle of no where!!!! The whole journey took 11hrs, not 7!!!! We were suddenly reminded of what James and Adele had told us before we left "Never Assume!!!" - wise words, wise words!!!!

When we finally arrived in Laung Prabang everywhere was closing up, we were all hungry, Dan looked like he could eat one of us as he hadn't been fed for several hours and had felt to sick on the bus he had to move up front next to the driver. After our 11hr adventure we had naturally made friends with the other people on our mini bus, so gathering our belongs we trapsed through the town and found a hostel for the evening who also kindly made us all a sandwich. Alex, Dan and I then had our first cosy night together all in one double bed - which we actually spent the next three nights in!! It was cheaper and even though I was squashed in the middle - partly my choice, but also coz someone needs to be there to calm down the Alex Sleep madness!!! The joys of being stuck between two men - the ONLY good thing was I always had cover, though little space!!!

Anyway two of the girls from Melbourne decided to also stay the next few nights at the hostel, Rommie and Nicole. The next night we went out to the hit the town, and got quite drunk on two for one cocktails - only drunk two!! But they were pratically pure alcohol!!!! All bars close at 12pm in Laos, and we had heard that the only place to go is the bowling alley!!! Now I thought this was some type of club, so I'm all merry sitting there wind in my hair as the tuk tuk - that Alex had bartered for, he is the king of bartering!!! - drove us to the destiantion, but no it is what it is - a bowling alley!!! RANDOM!!!! Bars can't have an extended license, but a bowling alley can!!!! I found out that night that even when drunk i'm still crap at bowling!!!! Consequently I came last - nothing new there!!! We all went back to the girls room and drunk cheap beer (well Dan and I had shandy as can't stand beer) until about 4am!!!

Next day we went to the waterfulls - was amazing, the colours were so vibrant and had a swim etc. Went to the Buddha caves the next day. Right I have written quite a bit, and hoping the computer won't crash after writing all this!

I'm aiming for us to be in Cambodia around 10th Feb as we've gotta be back in Bangkok on 18th for Chris coming over before we head down South to the islands!!! Can't wait to ly on a beach - much deserved, plus it will be nice to enjoy the heat as it's 35+ most days but can't really enjoy it in the city as it's too hot!!!

Hope to write again soon. Check the pics on Facebook if you haven't! Got loads from Laos, but prob can't upload till Bangkok as internet uploading is slow here.

Love to all xxxxx Enjoy the snow!!! xxxx