I am awakened at 5am by the local radio station blaring out all over town. Like a Muslim prayer calling followers to a Mosque, Radio Laos, calls the locals to their jobs. A communial alarm clock that can't do the alarm clock business any good whatsoever. Anna and I sleepily go looking for breakfast and check out the local market selling everything from fruit and veg to bats and rats. The town is alive early in the morning. Produce being bought and sold. We h...

I am up early to pack. I head to mamas for breakfast. A friendly lady with a tiny cafe near the hostel and my seat has a nice view of the mountain. Not much to do here but I will miss the peace in between the lao beer and whiskey (LT). I meet up with Anna and we head to our boat. We bump into Claire and Bobby as well as another German girl called Sarah. The boat is cramped and my arse feels like a new guys first week in prison. Solid wooden seat and legs lo...