Happy new year, or should I say sabai di be mi (probably not as I have no idea how to spell it)! We spent a very interesting new year in the Laos capital Vientiane. After checking in to our hotel on new years eve we went out to explore the city, only to find out that pretty much everything had shut up for new year! We found a French restaurant and had dinner there, there was a child begging at the table but after insisting we had no money to give him he eventual...

Tubing is quite possibly the most fun activity ever (cheers Lauren!). We arrived in Vang Vieng on Thursday and spent the evening in a bar watching friends (all the bars either show friends or family guy on a loop!) and had our usual red curry. On Friday we had a quick walk around before heading off for tubing...or at least that was the plan. We crossed a little bamboo bridge following a sign for a cave and spring, this led to another sign and another across f...

Today we were awoken by the strangled cat again and went for breakfast at Jomas - I appreciate that cheese and pastrami sandwiches can't necessarily be classed as breakfast but we were both craving real cheese. After this we checked out and walked 15 minutes with our backpacks to the new guesthouse I'd booked - its gorgeous. We have a room opening out into a beautiful sunny courtyard, the room is lovely although we have twin beds, which Robin didn't understand wh...

We both had a pretty sleepless night in our room, as what at first seemed quaint about living in someone's house, soon became a massive minus point - Our room was just off the communal dining area and we could hear people noisily moving around all night and very early morning. I'm also sure someone spent a lot of the night strangling a cat outside our window. We were up at 7 for our trip and headed to Joma bakery (quickly becoming my favourite place!) to pick up...

Woke up late, buffet breakfast at hotel (robin was pleased). Checked out and walked with our backpacks to our next hotel, which included a slight detour to someone's front room, they quickly pointed out that the hotel was further up the road! When we got outside the hotel a 2 year old child ran up to me and attached himself to my leg, which was cute, until i had to walk a few steps with him not letting go. He then went to robins leg for another hug! The hotel is...