A breakfast of baquette and ommelete starts the day. There is even Australian butter. The owner had mentioned a park nearby with a cave and clear water to swim in so we take the 10 minute walk there. There is a 2000 kip charge to cross the bridge over a chocolate brown river which links to a stretch for tubing. There is a small cave with a Buddha inside and a shrine. We pay 15000 (£1.20) to climb up to a larger cave network. Steep stairs punishing in the hum...

Up for French toast. As we're leaving the chef gives us an extra slice. We say farewell to Janny and she gives us both a bottle of water. Even though the rooms were a mosquito commune, the hospitality was outstanding. If I pass this way again, I know where I'll be staying. Craig's shorts ripped yesterday and Janny was about to take him to a tailors when our lift turns up. We get taken to a minibus that is packed. Craig and I pull down the seats in between th...

I circle my choice on the small breakfast menu, French toast and honey with a coffee. Comes with a banana, a great coffee and a big smile from the chef. We hire mopeds for 70000 (£5.50) and head to Buddha Park 25k away. Vientiane is the quietest and most relaxed city I have ever been to. Not a lot of traffic and most buildings not extending above 2 storeys. The city breaks to fields and small buildings with the Mekong river on my right. Thailand is close en...

Alarm goes off at 3:20am. I wouldn't say I had a great nights sleep, with slight deafness in one ear still, I kept waking just in case I slept in. When I saw Craig, he was exhausted. Not a wink of sleep. Just outside his room there is a large dip in the floor, which may as well have been electrodes on his nipples. Bleary eyed we jump in the taxi, the Indian chap on morning shift cursing his rotten luck. The airport at KL hasn't woken up. On the security che...

Last night some French idiot produced the controllers for the air con. When I traveled before, it was fans, but with technology, whoever gets that controller has complete power. I decide not to stick the controller up his nostril and get ready to leave. Over some toast at the hostel, we speak to 2 English girls and a Dutch guy. The girls are trapped in KK, waiting for their trip to climb Mount Kota Kinabulu in 4 days. The Dutch guy doesn't really know where...