How You Doing ?

just thought i would update my little diary for you all to ponder back in little old england.

i am now in vietiane, the capital of laos and have actually managed to make a decision about my future plans. i am flying, with lucy, dan left this morning to return home, into hanoi on thursday morning, before i think we go are different ways. it took alot of dithering around to come to that but the bottom line is that we didnt think we could take the 24 hours on a bus and bit the bullet and paid abit extra.

Vang Vieng was a nice little place to chill out for a few days and enjoy the countryside. i went tubeing down the river. by that i mean floating on an innner tube of a bus/lorry tyre downstream. its was a laugh and pretty good fun, although it rained for most of it. along the way there are plenty of little bars and cafes which throw ropes at you so you dont float past. they all have rope swings and places to throw yourself off into the muddy water, which i did twice - the second without much grace (was going for the whole forwrd double tuck, but managed to go arse over tit and land on my back.

had a few nights out around the town and found a nightclub - strange little place but funny. much like the town itself - the best place to eat and chill out was run by a lady-boy, but people put up with him/her because the food was so good. dan was especially taken by the place and he would frequently be found relaxing in the bar. the actual town was like a little bangkok - bars played dvds all day of friends to attract westerns in, that sort of stuff.

apart from that i went to look at some caves across the river, on the only bridge left standing by all the recent rain. good view from the top but it was a bit to well done - electric lights etc. but worth a look

left there yesterday to get down to the capital of laos, on a reasonable journey of 4 hours ish.as soon as we got off the bus we dumped into one of the irish lads, its a small world. this place is strange really - not what you think of a capital of being and its got the city smells which i had forgotten about. god only knows what hanoi will be like -similar to bangkok is what i have been told. so i think i will be going straight east and heading for halong bay and the coast.

i will let you know how i am getting on in vietnam in the not to distant future and will hopefully have some "good" news about my degree (fingers crossed and all that)

other news is that my burnt legs are now peeling, i will leave you with that thought