Next stop Vientiane, Laos.

Crossing over the border into Laos was really strange, you have to pass through Thai customs where they stamp you out of the country, you get on a bus, which takes you over the 'friendship bridge' built by the Australian's not that many years ago (I found out today that the first bridge built over the Mekong was in 1993! Not sure if it was this one!) You then get off said bus and go through Laos customs. There is not logic to it though, anyone can just walk back and forth, like no security gates or anything. I got my passport stamped anyway as I feared I may need it when I leave the country.

First impressions are not great. This is a very poor country, and it shows. Everything is very run down and worn out. I found a nice room though in a place reccomended by my guidebook. Being a poor country like this, its easy to find places that are really cheap. My room cost me just 2 pounds fifty per night!

One thing I did find anoying was the beggars. They just take one look at you and see 'Westerner' written on your foehead and come over to say hello. And they just dont go away until youve given them some money. I ended up giving them about 3000 kip, which is about 15 pence, but its just anoying when they just keep coming. Also at night, the ladyboys are out on the prowel. They are so obviously blokes, I wondered how much business they actually get!?!

I sat and watched the sunset the first night. Ive been told you get the best sunsets around here, and it was quite impressive, but a bit cloudy. Actually ive been supprised about the clouds, I expected it to be blue sky all the way.

On my last day I went to a Budda Park. Similar to the one in Nong Khai, but better! The big reclining budda is the national symbol of Laos, so I had to go see it. I got a tuk tuk with a local guy, I didnt get his name. He showed me all the sigs on the way. I found him to be just a genuine guy, not like all the touts and beggars i'd met so far. Ive been getting some great pictures, the internet is so slow out here, that I dont haver time to wait for them to all upload!

Next off to Vang Viang. Im finding it hard to keep up with a schedule. So many places and things to see, so little time to see them all!