Well we've made it to Luang Prabang from Vang Vieng and we were both a little sad leaving. Our minibus took 6 hours and the driver drove like a snail, going uphill tumbleweed would drift past us and other minibuses that were due to depart after us took us at the halfway point. Oh well better to be safe than sorry!!! We made a pit stop in a random restraunt, it had a counter that had dry meat that I suppose was fresh only a few hours ago and a random monkey tied to a tree, I guess watching the world go by, as people went in and out of the toilet!! The whole journey was breathtaking and we were kind of glad the driver drove slow as we could appreciate it all.

So we arrive Luang Prabang and get dropped 4km outside the centre. A group of us pile into a van with a cage on the back and the driver demands 10,000 kip (30p) from each of us. Not alot but the principle made me get into haggle mode and I got him down to 6,000 kip. We went to the first hostel and it was nice, but for some reason we followed an aussie couple into town, which took a good 20mins to one they'ed seen in the holy lonely planet (my arse). We arrived and it started to hammer it down, a full on monsoon with a couple of buckets thrown in for good measure. The bloody aussie couple got the last room and we we're left high and not very dry. We stayed for a while and made our way to try to find another room. We looked at loads but they were awful, one even looked like Bob Marleys room!!! We got a tuk tuk back to the first one and booked in. The room was like heaven, had stained floors, stained ceiling, lovely bathroom and even a balcony where you could see the temple on the hill. We sat out there and felt relaxed, not too relaxed as we had to go out and grab some dinner. Before dinner we booked our plane tickets to Vietnam through a travel agent. We then found a place on the main strip claiming to serve the best burgers in Luang Prabang so we ordered. It arrived and it was pink on the inside, i'd eatten half already. They took it away, must've heated it up and brought it out, with our teeth marks still in, mmmmm!!!!!!! We went back to our room and had a beer on our balcony.

Next day we had a late wake and went into town and grabbed some breakfast and wandered around. We went to the Mekong river and had a drink. We had a lazy day and admired the building, very french influenced!!! In the evening we sampled somemore beer Lao at a bar called Hive!! We drank with some Korean girls that we met in Vang Vieng and a Korean man that was very funny. What we found is that we see the same people everywhere we go, small world but I guess we're in a small place and on the tourist trail!!!

Today we went to the waterfall which were 32kms out of town. We managed to get on a share taxi which cost us $3 each which is better than $15 we were being quoted. We arrived at the falls and followed the group to the top of the falls and it was secluded. They had a hamock and set it up, we had a paddled then decided to make our way back down so we could go for a proper swim. On the way we saw the bear and tiger sanctuary. The tiger look healthy but was pacing up and down. The bears were more happy and while admiring them i felt an itch on my foot. A small leech had attatched itself and sucking away. I got a ciggie out crumbled it on and then used a lighter to get it off. The amount of blood was amazing!! We went and cleaned it up then returned to the swimming area, it was really lovely and had turquoise water with mini falls coming off the main fall. I was really paranoid so decided not to swim, but Ellie did take the plunged and advised it was really cold!! We thought we would never see the group again as they advised they were gonna spend the whole afternoon there!!! We grabbed some soup and there they were, so we all ate together. We returned back to town and went up to the temple on the hill to see the sunset, it didn't dissapoint and I think we could've spent the whole night there. We went back to our part of town which was a bit away from the action but also had some trendy bars that done cheap alchohol. We had some nibbles and a beer lao, mmmm!!! We saw Mike and Fennalla there too and it was weird cause we'd only emailed them earlier and thought we'd never see them, what a small world!!!

Today was the day we flew on a twin propellered plane. Ellie was really scared so we had a really nice breakfast and went back to get our stuff!! We got a taxi to the airport which was really small and cute. We checked in and waited in the departure lounge. WE waited, and waited and then suddenly it arrived, really loud and both propplers were working.The reason Ellie was a bit worried about flying Lao airlines is because it advises you on the British Foriegn Office website not to fly with them because of the aount of accidents they have!!

So there we left Laos...the most wonderful country we have been so far, bit gutted we didnt have more time to really explore it but at least we know we will return! Next stop Hanoi (if the plane makes it!)