Up at 6.30am and back on the boat at 7am. We set off on the journey to Luang Prabang, one of the bigger towns in Laos. It was a very cold morning so and with the wind from the speed of the boat we were all layering up. The first stop was to a Buddhist cave. The boat pulled up and we had to cross another dodgy plank to get across to the cave. Here we climbed up steps to enter the cave where it was filled with approximately 2000 Buddha statues (I didn't count them, our guide told us) and then we prayed to the Buddha. The elder lady of the village had given us each a gift for the Buddha. We had to light incense, light a candle and give a flower and then pray three times and then make a wish and pray another three times. We then made it back to the boat and went down the river for another hour before arriving in Luang Prabang.

Climbing the steepest hill with my backpack and day bag, this unfortunately was becoming a common occurace, we made our way to the tuk tuk. The journey to our accommodation took about 15 minutes and we were shown to our room. I was sharing with Saskya again and as we were only staying the one night in the town we had booked to go elephant trekking. We had about an hour and a half to get showered and grab some lunch before we were picked up to go.

We made our way to he elephant village which was about 35 minutes away, the driver coughed and spat at out the window the whole way there (you didn't need to know that but I am writing this to remember all the memories myself so thought I best add it in). We arrived just as a lady was climbing on to an elephants neck and was starting the ride. We got out the car and climbed on to a platform where we got on our elephant. Our elephant had a seat on its back so I shuffled across first and then. Saskya hopped on next to me and we were given a plank that sat in front of us to save us from falling out. We walked on a track for about 30 minutes with a man pulling the elephant when it didn't want to walk and then tapping it with a stick behind at other parts of the track. They did look after the elephants and were nice to them so I am pleased I chose to go trekking here rather than Ayutthaya where the elephants seemed to be 'show' elephants. Randomly half way around the track the guide lit a bush fire which spread quickly but half the area we were in seemed to be burnt down but I didn't really understand why. Our guide took pictures for us all the way round, luckily none of them have the bush fire in the background. We also realised whilst going around the track that our elephant was scared of cars so she would stop moving or turn round when a car approached as we walked across the main road.

After we got back we were asked if we wanted to bath the elephants. We both said yes and the guide told us there were showers for us to get changed....erm we didn't bring any other clothes as we weren't told we would be bathing then so we decided just to go in the clothes we were wearing and we would dry off. So we climbed back on the elephant, this time Saskya at the front and me behind her with no seat and we walked down to the river. The walk down to the river was steep and at times I felt I was going to push Saskya off the front of our elephant but we made it to the water and the next thing the elephant was dunking us right under the water. She then snorted water all over us and we were well and truly soaked. We made it back to the main camp and then the elephants were taken to where they stay overnight and we were left smelling like a pond jumping into a minibus back to the hotel still dripping wet. It was definitely worth it and I loved it.

Back at the hotel we got ready to meet our group for tea. As most of our group are staying in the town for longer I also met the group I will be joining tomorrow. We went and ate at the night market where we had a buffet of all different Laos food and meat which cost me about £2.20. I then wandered around the night market which was full of nice stalls, I bought a little purse and make up bag. I need a lot of purses at the moment as I am changing currency so much!

So now back in the room and having an early night as I'm up at 6am to catch the bus to the next stop. It's all go :) xx