The lovely land of Laos!

And so, dear readers, we have made it to Laos. Still a bit uncertain if it is pronounced Lao or Laos. I'm going to go with Lao. Because Laos sounds like a bug,

I'm not entirely sure I have recovered sufficiently to give a full low-down on our terrifying journey from Chang Mai to Luang Probang (where we are currently staying - small French colonial town, very pretty) but it involves 18 hours in a stuffy 'VIP' bus, monsoon rain, getting stuck in the mud with tires digging us in deeper and deeper whilst we look on with terrified faces, me vomiting into a plastic bag which just so happened to have a hole in it.... Lets just say I am scarred for life and will never get a night bus ever again. Fellow travelers, avoid this journey at all costs. I will never be able to eat BBQ flavour crisps ever again.

So anyway, here we are in Laos! So far, it seems a bit like what I imagine Thailand to be before the gap year students took over. Not that I dislike Thailand, I love it, but Laos is far less touched by the negative effects of tourism. Not a Boots, Starbucks or McDonalds in sight! Its strange to think that they have only opened their borders to travelers within the last 10 years or so, and with that in mind, it is actually pretty advanced. Perhaps I am just spoiled by Thailand. To be honest, whilst I was aware that Thailand is a fairly easy country to travel in, I am still surprised that I would feel quite comfortable to walk around completely on my own, something that I would have never of done in Sri Lanka.

Luang Probang has many sights and adventures to offer, from hiring a bike to see waterfalls and caves, to the many temples and streets and streets of silver shops and French Patisseries. Oh, and of course the obligatory massage spas on every street corner.

I have much more to say about my adventures in Pai and my horrific experience of getting an oil massage with a fellow traveler we met along the way, but the internet cafe is closing and I fear a slapdash conclusionary comment will not do it justice. I shall leave you in suspense, but it may just have been the most horrific experience of my life, and I will never be able to look the poor man in the eye ever again.

So long dear friends, keep on following! (even if it is just my Mother reading by this point) xxxx