Well, I wasn't wrong about the adventure in store for us on the public bus from Huay Xai to Luang Nam Tha.... 

The story starts at 8.40am when the angry owner of the guest house knocks on the door shouting that he'd told us to be ready to leave at 8.30am because the bus leaves at 9.30.  News to me but heh...  Hastily packed The Beast, as my rucsac is now being affectionately termed, and bundled out to the waiting tuk-tuk.  By 9.05 we still hadn't left and I was starting to get a little nervous that we'd miss the bus altogether.  Finally set off though and made it out to the "bus station" in just about one piece.  The small minibus/coach/box on wheels was already crammed with people, dogs, motors, bikes etc.  Tim tried valliently to get us 2 seats but the best we could manage was a real seat and a plastic chair in the aisle.  Well, I use the word chair in it's loosest sense - more of an unstable piece of moulded plastic which threatens to snap in half at every slight movement of the bus.  We took it in turns to share the pleasure of the comedy wobbling, falling, leaning and on occasion leaving the ground with all 4 legs at a time that punctuated the ride.  The journey itself was an adventure with or without added bonus of the "chair". The small boy in charge was a wannabe rally driver who drove - no, more slid - his way fast through the mud, past other trucks, cars, goats etc.  My favorite part was where we all had to get out and walk up a steep muddy hill because the bus couldn't make it with us inside.  The chains helped it's traction but Tim was suffering in his flip-flops...  The bus, as all modes of transport we've travelled on so far seem to, broke down at one point to add to the misery of the 10 hours but we finally made it.  Dirty, tired, broken but alive!

Spent the next 2 days paddling through Nam Ha National Park - much more chilled.  The inevitable happened though and I ate some pork for lunch (it was cleverly disguised with some steamed fern?!) so by the time it came to dinner at the Lanten tribal village and chicken was on the menu I just "took it on the chin" - Tim's words!  Luckily I could wash it down with some Lao Lao (foul tasting local rice whiskey) and finished off with a deep fried maggot.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Sounds so simple if I say it quickly... 

After that spent a restful day in Luang Nam Tha prior to another public bus journey back to Luang Pra Bang yesterday.  10 hours did not make for a happy duo by the time we arrived last night.  Why is there only 20 centimetres leg room?  Why do they play Laos rock music at 5,000,000 decibels through crap speakers?  Answers on a post card...

Off tonight, just to punish ourselves, on the night bus back to Vientiane.  May not be able to speak about any other journeys - it's all too emotional!

Take care.  S x