Looks like Lonely Planet and my sources were wrong. Laos DOES have Internet access via satelite, albeit slower than an SM. 😉

Anyway, just thought I’d let everyone know that I got to Luang Prabang safe and sound. Longest journey of my life but probably the most fun and interesting and beautiful.

Started off getting the bus to Chiang Rai where we got a rickshaw to Chiang Khong. Stayed there the night and met a lot of people going the same way (We were all on the package tour anyway!)

Next morening, pretty damn early we left Thailand and got a little boat over to immigration in Laos. After a nice healthy 10 mins of waiting and processing, we were finally in Laos….but trust me, nowhere NEAR our final destination.

Got a tuk tuk to the pier where we waited for our boat. After getting 80 people onto a 40 people, most people decided it was unsafe and got off. They finally arranged a bigger boat for us while some opted for teh speedboat. The boat was still overcrowded and uncomfortable but we got a great group on it. About one hour in when aeveryone started to get drunk, everyone started moving around, playing guitar and talking and finding each others “Story” (Story being the standard set of questions you ask other travellers…where are you from, where have you been so far in SEA and howlong are you travelling. )

For me its great because I have been most places everyone is heading! I fucked it up by going to Cambodia and Vietnam first! So anyway….
We stopped in a really REALLY deserted village (Pekbeng) for the night where we stayed in a hut. There was NO electricity and it was really cool cos it was Laos new year and the whole village was lit up by candles. So beautiful.

next day, the boat journey was great. We all got a different boat but no more comfortable. Everyone made the best of it. Everyone got drunk and got on. Major party. The boat in total tool two days and one night. met up with a few people who arrived by speedboat (Same journey in 6 hours) and they wished they hadda gotten the slow boat. totally worth it. the scenery is like out of the most beautiful dream you could ever have. Amazing. I never knew something soo amazing could still exist on earth. Sorry if that sounds cheesy.

Anyway, got the last two beds in the only dorm in LP. Its CRAZY. Its UNDERGROUND in a bobmshelter! Its so cool though cos its full and the people are really great. We all met up alst night. A group of 20 of us went for food got really drunk and ended up swimming in the mekong out of our faces. How cultural is that.

today we went to see a few temples and relax after the long journey. The city is SOOOOOOOO quiet! Its the most, I mean the MOST peaceful and laidback place I have ever been in my life. All day the city NEVER got out of first gear. Theres no beeping of horns allowed here and whats really strange is that all the westerners stick together because its ILLEGAL for a non-Laos person to be with a Laos person. The Laos person goes to prison and the Non gets deported. its pretty extreme but really refreshing. No nice ladies feigning interest in you for ANY reason and they will only speak on a PURLEY “Hello, how are you? Want to learn Lao?” level. Strange but true. Also, I ahve not seen any police over here. in Pekbeng, a 12 year old boy offered me and SHOWED me weed, cocaine, E and Opium. When I asked him how old he was, he said…”I’m 12, but dont worry, theres no police all the way out here”. Sure enough there wasn’t.

Anyway, everyones waiting for me so I have to go. Sarah, I tried ringing you all day. Too bad, you must have been in work. So heres my update for you. Cannot stay so Ill talk soon. Going to the biggest waterfall in Laos tomorrow. Major party I think. Should be a lot of fun. Probably leaving for Vang Vieng on Monday or Tuesday, this city is way too chilled out. I’ll get hooked. Plus another night of drinking straight (1 euro for a 2 liter bottle) Laos whiskey is not good for any of us. Looking forward to then tubing there, but more on that when I actually do it.

Hope everyone is well. Take care and I miss you all. 😉 Wish you were all here in this great weather. 😉

PS: I hear the pope is a Nazi, is that true?

PPS: I got really badly stung by a HUGE bee today THROUGH my t-shirt. Sympathy anyone?