Laos so far

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Not sure which day of our trip it was (can't be bothered to work to out) but we left Chiang Mai on Tuesday 20/09/11 for Laos. On our bus we met some new people. Our tour guide was named One, from Israel, Harry and Dan Moon. Both from England similar ages and attitude so that was a touch. There was also a girl named Naomi from England on her own and she was nice too. 

In a nutshell we stayed at the border and then travelled across and met 3more people on our tour, Nick and Anton, from the Uk and Mark from NZ. All top lads and we had a great crack hiring bikes and riding up a pretty big hill where there was an amazing lookout point and a temple. Alex and I went in the temple and got blessed by a monk guy. Very strange, but pretty cool. Although we had no idea what he was saying so for all we know he may have cursed us! That evening we all played shit head and got pretty well acquired with local beer Lao. Later on One took us to a Chinese Disco. Not really sure what we were expecting but we arrived and it was full of VERY young people. Like teenagers, it could've been nappy night in fact. Nevertheless we got on the empty dance floor and got the place going with some dance offs and invisiball (if you know Invisiball, then you'll appreciate it).

The next day was travelling again, the roads were as windy as a spring and were bumpier then a 14yr olds face. That night we stayed in a small village in the mountains in huts with hammocks. After dinner we went to play boules, which is the Laos national sport. Alex and I were up first and beat two local people. It was pretty epic and we expect a call from the national team in no time. 

Nick was also pretty handy with his feather duster hands (very delicate). "floats like a tennis racket and stings like a feather duster" was the chant. 'twas funny at the time. 

Our next destination was Luang Probanh, the former capital and a relatively large city in comparison to other places we stayed in Laos. We had to get a slow boat there down the Mekong river. It was about 6hours but it was amazing. Unbelievable scenary, boiling sun. I asked the captain if I (Tas) could drive for a while and he obliged, much to the dismay of the rest of the group. I'm not going to lie, I was pretty amazing and I'm now happy I can add 'long boat captain' to my CV. 

Luang Probang was very cool, Alex and I got a tuk tuk up to the famous waterfall. It was huge and as it had rained heavily recently, it was very powerful too. As we walked towards the waterfall a tree fell and nearly hit us. Pretty scary. 

That evening Alex, Nick, Mark and I went to a bar called Utopia. I think Carelsberg made it as it was probably the coolest bar I've been to. We had a few drinks and then the rest of the group came to meet us. By this point there was quite a few of us as another tour guide came along. Vinay from NZ. Cool guy. 

The bar was so chilled out with floor cushions and shishas by the river front, a very morrocon vibe to it. The best bit was the beach volleyball court they also had. We were obviously very keen. Alex and I teamed up with man giant Nick and were undefeated. We were good. After sweating like George W when questioned about 911, we started chatting to a group of Scouse girls and a yank. Kat, Holly and Tammy. We all got carried away and decided to go midnight bowling at the infamous bowling alley. It was good fun. I won the first game, Mark won the second by one pin. I fell to the ground in despair and was duly bundled by everyone. Ouch. 

The following morning we had to be up at 6:30 to go to Vang Vien. We had only had 2 and a half hours sleep. We were all pretty disgusting. Mark and Anton stayed at Luang Prabang for a fee days. Our bus came with 4 extra people, two couples from Manchester; Greg and Karly and Pete and Fae. They were all pretty sound and we all got on it when we arrived in VV. As the crowd thinned out, Harry, Nick and myself decided we'd carry o with the fun and went to a club and then a late night bar which we had to ourselves. The owner was this Lao guy called JD and he decided to give us limitless amounts of free shots of whisky and a taser. A lot fun and shocking each other. Good times. 

That was our last night with Nick as he was getting on the bus in the morning and we stopped in VV for 4 days. 

TUBING:

For those who don't know what tubing is, it's where people hire large tyre inner tubes and float down the Mekong river, every so often there are bars on the river bank and little Lao guys throw you ropes and pull you in. The bars are MENTAL. Everyone is partying hard, dancing and flipping in to the river. The epic 'americano dance' happened frequently. 

Tubing is renowned for being dangerous and you have to sign a disclaimer before doing it. This year so far 13 people have already died through a mixture of poor jumps, branches catching you under the water and generally being too drunk and drowning. 

Basically I wasn't great at tubing, lost my flip flops, Alex lost his glasses and I missed a lot of ropes. On reflection we probably stayed a bit too long and by the time we left the last bar to float back it was dark. Stupidly I lost the group and ended up in a panic somewhere on the Mekong river. Luckily a fisherman eventually shined a torch at me and gave me a ride back to civilisation. I owe him. 

The party continued into the night and I met some of the workers from the tubings bars and after the group went their separate ways I stayed with them, the only name on memory is Aerish, but they were all a good crack. 

We decided to wait for the Stray Tour bus to arrive so Mark and Anton could come tubing with us. They also brought two new faces with them, Myrthe from holland and Ellie from Uk. Both were cool and were game for a giggle (Although I don't think Myrthe wasn't in the Vang Vieng 'partying' mentality). Alex, Harry, Dan and I decided we'd save some money by not hiring tubes today and would just swim across. This sounds like a stupid plan but in the end we ended up hanging on to the backs of other people's rings and kicking across. Much easier. Altho my driver, Anton lost my flip flops. Bloody northerners. 

We still had a good crack but made sure we were a bit quicker getting to the bars this time, and instead of floating back we thought it would be safer to get a tuk tuk. Again after a day of tubing we carried straight on with the drinking whilst at dinner and then pulled out Ring Of Fire whilst Q Bar (the main club). A great game for getting to know someone and all the international drinking rules were in force, including Green man, Grenade master, and Gheko (If someone shouts Gheko you all have to run and stick to a wall like a Ghekko). When there was about 15 of us ( a couple more brit girls joined us, Stef and... Friend??-cant remember them all) this got pretty boisterous and we definitely received a few bewildered looks. 

As the game subsided and some folks headed back we were able to get to know each other more and I got chatting to Ellie for a while and she was really sound, tidy too. Travelling on her tod as her sister had broke her foot just before they were due to flight. Poor lass. 

We all left VV the next day and headed to the capital, Vientianne. Everyone was Hanging! We decided to inject some culture in to the trip so One took us to some caves, a lagoon (where Harry got told off for going in nude) and seeing some monuments in the capital. Nothing to tell the grandkids about there though.

Everyone needed to chill for a bit but I had to hand wash my clothes in a bucket as no laundrettes could wash them quick enough as we were leaving in the morning. Not happy. 

In the eve we all went for dinner, at this point Vinay rocked up with 3more girls were joining our tour, 3brits, Lynn, Debs and Zoe. Spent a while chatting to Debs and we got on real well, this was to be our group for the rest of Laos and it was a good one (the biggest theyve ever had apparently) and with Vinay as our guide. Although Mark would leave us to go home at Vientianne as hid trip is over. We shall see you in NZ Mark. Legend. In fact the whole group is pretty darn swell. A lot of peeps went back the hotel, but some of us stayed out as it Marks last night and with more new faces it was probably good for the group to get to know each other further. 

Another bumpy journey. Thursday 29/09/11, just completed a 3 hour drive to the jungle where we're camping for the night. Not a great deal to do, although there was an enormous waterfall but it was too strong to get near to. So all 15 of us when for a dip in the river in the blazing sun. It was sweet. A sand building competition also crept it's way in to the equation. Mine was pretty terrific, it had a working chimney and everything (don't act like you're not impressed. When we had had enough of the lake Alex and I taught the group Hebe and other games. Dinner was a mixture of kebabs and then we all broke out Ring Of Fire (ROF). Then entered Drunk Anton. I love this guy, he would literally do anything. I won't go into specifics but it was hilarious and trying to put him to bed was impossible. Not many people slept well. Can't wait to see the boy again ;-) 

Everyone was hanging in the morning, Harry, Anton and I decided to shower in the lake over looking the waterfall. Not a bad way to start the day. 

Right that's it, I've had enough of boring you all now, this blogs as much for Sweed and I to remember everything and everyone as it is for you to follow us. So sorry if it's dragged. Well done if you made it to the end. 

Speak soon folks. 

Tas and Sweed. 

xxx :-D