Vang Vieng, Lao : 7 Dec 10

Here I am in Vang Vieng .. the most laid back place in the world ... if it was any more laid back the locals would be asleep ... well most of them seem to be! And it's so laid back you have to pester them for service! Go from one extreme in Vietnam to the other in Lao!

And I got the cheapest room in history ... 40,000 kip which is about $5 and my doona cover is bright pink with cartoon pictures of little girls on it ... I feel like I am 8 years old again :))

The bus from Vientiane was late leaving as there was one bloke on the bus who reckons he had lost his ticket and the bus driver told him he had to pay again which makes sense to me but he wouldn't so we were delayed 15 minutes while the bus driver and this bloke had a stand off. The bus driver won (yay) ! cos the bloke was pretty arrogant.

Vang Vieng is an amazing place ... ramshackle buildings on the Nam So river I think it's called and all surrounded by craggy mountains. They have built make shift bamboo bridges over the river which must get washed away in the monsoon as they are pretty temporary looking. I really like this place ... very cruisy. The restaurants don't have tables and chairs but raised platforms with tables and you sit on cushions. Everyone seems to just go in total slack mode and lie around watching tv and drinking beer. I read in the LP too that there is a huge drug business here too ... think this goodie two shoes will give that a miss!

I have booked a trip tomorrow to go caving, kayaking, trekking and swimming for a whole day. Can't wait for this.

I am suffering today from the bed bug itch .. that hotel last night in Vientiane had the worst bed bugs and the itch is driving me completely insane. One puffed up on my hand today in this huge blister. Another bloke who stayed there too who was on the bus today was suffering too. Not much fun!

Have booked to go to Luang Prabang on the 9th and then will head up to Luang Nam Tha on the 10th ... am in the process of booking a 2 day trek in the Nam Ha Valley ... 6 hours of trekking a day and visiting minority race villages... sounds great!

I found silver shops :)) ... spent a fortune !! ... $18 ... 2 pairs of earrings, a ring and a beaded bracelet.

Well better go ... I can hear the Beer Lao calling me ... :)