Sabaidi from Laos.

Only been here for a few days but already I LOVE it. It's cheap, it's hot, the food is ace and the people are LOVELY. Came in from Bangkok on an overnight train to Nong Khai and got all our border stuff done here. After getting our Visa on arrival; we headed out to our hostel. It was miles out of the city centre but absolutely stunning. We had our breakfast, lunch and dinner in a floating restaurant right on the Mekhong river and watched the sunset each night with a nice Beerlao (Which, according to the men in the local village, is the reason for so many children in Laos families....)

We spent the first day in the city which was a big mistake. It was dull! We also had a NIGHTMARE geting back to our hostel as noone seemed to know where it was! We started off in a Tuk Tuk who got us halfway there, decided it was too far away and then wanted to charge us 3 times the price to actually take us there! We weren't impressed and made him take us back to the city to find no cabs anywhere! We ended up walking into the Plaza hotel (Which is just as posh and intimidating as the Western ones) and asking for help, eventually, the bellboy dropped us back in the hotel taxi for WAY more than we should've paid had we organised ourselves! Ah well, live and learn!

The next day was ace, we went on a tour of the local village which was across the river from our resort. We were expecting the trip to last around an hour, see some handicrafts and head back home for lunch but it didn't quite work out like that! We walked around, saw the temple and stuff and then walked through a massive engagement party in the street! Being foreigners they all stared and shouted at us to join them, so not to appear rude we sat down for "5 minutes" to talk to them. Well they started pouring us Beerlao...then fed us...then invited us into the house of the bride's parents....then told kim she was a model...the chief of the village could only say three words in English...I Love You, which he repeated throughout the day as he got drunker and drunker! Then they brought out the whiskey. We didn't leave for around 5 hours! It was so much fun though. They were all so lovely and generous, they didn't want our money or anything from us but our company and some people to practice their English on! Our guide was HAMMERED by the time we got back to the resort and went straight home! Myself and Kim were given the task of pouring drinks from one bottle and passing them around the circle, we all sat on the floor and they were all singing along to Laos music before the karaoke got started! They were all so nice and friendly, the men were telling us "In Laos, man big woman small" and that Laos beer made them very strong which is why they had so many babies! The women made us loads of food (We were the awkward vegetarians who wouldn't eat the beef!) and stared at me funny for smoking (I don't think ladies in Laos do that!) It was an awesome experience, one of my favourite days in the last 6 months!

The following day was tame in comparison, another wasted day in the city trying to get our Cambodian Visa (The Embassy was shut of course) and wandering around town.

We're now in Vang Vieng but haven't done anything except drink and eat so far! Will blog that next time!

Hope you are all well,

Sel

xxx