I arrived in Vang Vieng yesterday afternoon and can honestly say it is just as described. Natural beauty all around the town but that doesn't seem to be what people have come here for. The town itself, littered with bars all playing tapes of Friends, South Park and Family guy with half yawning back packers munching through noodles in the afternoon. This was going to be just as I expected it to be, I was hoping I could return to being my party animal former self.....

Today I was back on the tourist wagon and I wish I could say I was having another good start to the day. After getting home very early this morning I had no one to blame but myself. Playing pool with the usual crowd of 'John's' in Lao Lao I some how managed to convince all of them that we had to go to the bowling alley to continue drinking. Lesson of the day that we have learnt? I cannot bowl when drunk...there are more dents in that alley now than before. After...

This morning saw me getting up at the crack of dawn to give Alms to the local Monks of Luang Prabang. The Alms ceremony is where the locals come together and present food to the monks of the town. They walk round the entire town collecting from people at 5 am. It was actually quite humbling to see them being presented with Alms and giving thanks to a community that takes care of them. It is a shame that some of the tourist offices take advantage of this and sell ...

This entry wasn't going to make it to the blog because it was meant to be a routine day but after the day I'd had, my usual randomness shone through and I felt I had to share it with everyone. The day started off relatively normal, I got up and did what I always do in a new town, I walked the streets to see what was there. I went Temple visiting this morning and sat down at the market for a nice cool Mango shake. I was then approached by one of the touts who ask...

I was having a good night's sleep in the guest house in Pak Beng until the Cockerel decided to start crowing about 4 am right through till when we left on the boat. Breakfast was a little strange but I braved the coffee, hearing that Lao coffee is some of the strongest I would find in SE Asia. Amy and I had breakfast early and the boys rocked up looking a little tired. I believe Connor got a little impatient with that Cockerel and said something along the lines o...