I have a few hours kip and get awoken with a beer. Sam's birthday so we spend the day drinking gin and tonic. I have met so many amazing people and travelling on my own has increased my confidence again no end. Happy hour has begun so looks like a delayed hangover on the cards. I have a fabulous burger at the hostel that sets me up for the day. Sam buys a complete traditional outfit for his birthday from a local Hmong tribes woman. A Kodak moment. Him and S...

Walking through Sapa, myself and Melissa are guided by a tribeswoman. Melissa had heard of a hostel called Mountain view. 15 minutes later we arrive in the dark. Unfortunately I can't check in till 2pm, so get to know some of the hostel party animals still up and drinking (will turn out to be good friends and the staff). I grab a well deserved shower(LT) and tuck into a great breakfast of coffee, potato and pancakes. Even a banana. Its the most I've eaten in...

I am up at 5am. The town radio waking me before my alarm clock. I say farewells to Anna, unable to sleep through radio Laos too and I head one last time across the rickety old bridge. There are 3 westerners and luckily there is a bus today. I chat and have a coffee with the German girl, French girl and her cousin. I sleep till the laos border crossing. I hand over the exit doc and head the 5km in the bus to the Vietnam border. I fill in a medical form and m...

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...