A few days since I wrote last. After a day in .... tourist mecca, scaling limestone cliffs in search of the magnificent caves, we decided to kayak down river to the capital of Laos, Vientiane. A very peaceful tuk-tuk drive .... took us to the start of our 4 hour kayaking adventure. We get into our kayaks and put on our helmets ... we are lucky we booked with this particular guest house as we actually got helmets .. the other two people on our adventure didn't get any!! The kayaking was an experience in itself, especially since I have never done it before! We opted for the double kayak as I didn't feel particularly confident on my own ... it wasn't until we got part way down the river did I realise why this was such a good option! Gentle rapids in Thai translates to GRADE 5 TUMBLING RAPIDS in Kiwi speak! Soon found this out as we rapidly descended down a waterfall. The guide made it, the Swiss guy 'fluked' it, but not me and Steve. We fell out as our kayak hit the side of the river, a huge rock looming before me. We tipped out and I hit my head against the rock, helmet proving very handy!! I got sucked into the strong eddies at the bottom of the rock, it was pure adrenalin that got me out of that one alive! I floated several metres before the guide picked me up in his kayak and steered me to safety! Lunch was had on the side of the river bank with a homeless Lao man who was a huge fan of Poker. They sat there smoking endless cigarettes and drinking whisky, which increased my nerves slightly since the guides had to get us safely down this river!! Our departure was fine though!! We did stop once more to jump off the side of the cliff face, plunging 11m down into the depths of the river below. I did this only once, just to experience it. It was high enough for me to feel rather uncomfortable and nervous. We exit the river and catch up with the tuk-tuk that has met us at the other end. A quick rice-wine later and we find ourselves on the way to Vientiane which is where we are now. Little did we know, until we arrived, that the very bus we were originally going to catch to Vientiane before we discovered the kayak trip, had been overtaken by guerillas and blown up and lots of things stolen ... another call far too close for my comfort! Alas, we are here. We will not stay here long, we need to get to Vietnam. We've opted for the flight from here to the Northern town of Hanoi. SARS is probably going to be a huge factor in getting accommodation etc. Laos is a beautiful country, the people are very friendly! I have enjoyed my time here, and I'm sure the young Lao man who witnessed me in a bikini enjoyed my time there too! Lao women are not allowed to bare skin, even when swimming, they swim fully clothed!