Same Same, But Different!!

Haha, hope everyone is well, myself?? i feel awesome (",)

Since my last entry it has been an eventful 5 days, on the morning of the 1st December we made our way to Mr Kom's shop so we could begin our journey into Laos via a Chiang Kong and the famous Slow Boat. Our Mini Van which was to take us on our 6 hour journey to north thailand, Chiang Kong was on what is now referred to as Laos timing and was late. Wwhen it finally arrived the van was packed like a nissan micra back home and found ourselves sitting amongst the greatest crowd to date, we started talking to a few of the other travellers most notably Dan from South Africa and Matt from London, and Steve and Sharon from Leeds.

After many laughs and stop offs, we reached our destination in Chiang Kong and our riverside appartments (sounds a lot nicer than it is) and checked into our dodgy made cabins. We decided that night we would get trashed as the following day was our SlowBoat experience. Myself, Hims, Rick, Dan and Matt found a local bar (the only bar in this village which more or less had not more than 15 stalls/shops/homes) and began on the tigers, 3 bottles later we decided to play a few games of Killer pool as the Man City game was useless. 10 beers later we were still playing pool and not until about midnight and numerous vistis to the loos did we decide to call it a night. Worst decision ever as the dodgy made cabins had more nooks and crannys then a cheese grater and was frozen by wake up time.

We sat down for brekkie and with a killer hangover realised it was time for the Slow Boat (i was so not ready or in the mood for two days ona bleeding slow boat). After handing over many 1 dollar notes to various immigration officials and dodgy boat drivers we were in Laos territory now (literally was the other side of our riverside appartment). On board the boat, cushons in place to stop my skinny behind getting any blisters, located the bar we were ready to go (only the boat driver weren't) and we sat there for an hour or two without moving. Finally we were off down the famous Mekong River (which is filthy), spotted the kiwi's and grabbed out very first BEER LAO!! This drink is the ONE! pretty much spent the whole journey bvetween us 5 lads, 4 kiwi bird's, the Dink (another of Rick's interests), and a new friend who is still travelling with us..teh Legend form Milano, Thomas!! and about 5 bottles of Beer Lao (640 ml's Mush, i know what your thinking) oh and plenty of stop off's so the beer could be replenished en route LOL. Got to Pat Bong (Rat City) for about 6pm and went to the fust guest house we could find, all 11 of us and a hell of a lot of noise. Checkind in to our quid a night rooms, stocked up on the high commisioner whiskys and we plonked ourselves on to the balcony and as you can imagine, wasted again!! totally trashed, we even managed to meet Nick from brighton who was staggering down PAt bongs only street with a bottle of LaoLao whisky which we were force fed! then his sister Rachel who got her words mixed up and upset hims, haha he let her have it!! totally shut her up.

The third and final day of our slow boat adventure and we as we assumed were late to the boat, Kiwi's and the Dink got in early and found thier seats but us lads were last on the boat, with no whewre to sit and killer hangovers we went to the back of the boat, plunked our bags down and slept on top of everyones luggage (could not have worked out more perfect). 4 hours kip and we were up again, still lounging on everyones luggage like we were at home, we woke to find everyone walking to the back opf the boat to take pictures of us lager louts!! Obviously we did not want to disappoint our fellow travellers, we nabbed the Lao Joey and ordered in the first of many Beer Laos. 4 Beer Lao's later, and 2 of thomas's bacon baguettes we had arrived at our final destination, Luang Prabang!! you can pretty much guess how the night ended, Beer Lao and Black Whisky - Lethal!!

Woke up again with a killer hangover but with the TV on showing Liverpool highlights - 4 nil!! Spent the day drinking and we visited the Laos Waterfall - Did not seem like a good idea but with the Lads diving in i felt the need to prove a point and off i went!!! slap bang in the middle and loved it, spent an hour or two there, not including the 1 hour drive there and back, and it was time again - Beer Lao o'clock!!!

Spent the evening in the Hive bar where we met some aussie birds and got trashed, still eager for more booze (the Bars in Luang Prabang close at midnight) we were informed of a Bowling Alley which does not close!! a tuk tuk filled with 12 people and the re-appeareance of Nick and his Sis, and a beer lao for the journey we had reached the famous Bowling alley!! within 2 minutes i was playing ten pin bowing bare foot and with a fresh beer with a local Lao who was dressed like a pro badmintoon poayer, a couple of mandalin players, all the boys and another of Ricks interests. Got home at somepoint and out came the Black Whiskey - Woohoo!!! 2 shots later i was fast asleep!!

Again, this morning we were up for 6.30am tyo begin todays 8 hour bus drive into Vang Vieng (the home of Toobing)...not much about todays journey but for a popped tyre and plenty of sleep stretched out on the back seat....oh and seeing a local man walking round with an AK47 as if it was normal (WTF)

This blog has pretty much been about drinking and i cant see it being any different for a while..

But i am loving it here as are the boys, so until next time...Ciao