Laos Adventures

Hi All

Well ended up having an extra day in Laos as I missed my flight yesterday! Turned up at the airport (on time), only to be told that I needed a Vietnam visa before I flew into Hanoi, after my travel advisor in Hanoi told me that I could pick one up when I arrived. Rushed back into town to the embassy paid a fortune for an Express visa (ripped off), and then back the airport to see my flight taking off! Luckily the girls on the ticket desk were kind and transferred me to today free of charge (I think)! So my flight is now at 1645 today, so will be in Hanoi for tonight, tomorrow and then head home on Thursday :-(

This place has been great, I had a shock at the airport when I got here as my visa was going to cost $35.00 after being told $30.00 (great advisor, should have known better). Stood in the queue no cash point machine around and they would not let through to the machines until everyone had gone through and I could be escorted. Luckily a girl overheard what was going on and lent me $5.00 to get through, and then pay her the other side. Shared a taxi into town, could only find single rooms that were either dumps or wanting $50.00 a night (which is stupid), so we got a great twin room in a really nice place for $10.00 each. Spent the last couple of days with Nina, lucked out on the first night as we walked down by the river to see the sunset, guy offered us a ride in his boat for $5.00 each we negotiated him down too. What a sunset, that’s what I hoped to see involving the Mekong, after going to the delta in Saigon and being so disappointed. We booked onto a tour the next day involving mountain biking in the morning and then kayaking in the afternoon and stopping for lunch at these fantastic waterfalls. Kayaking down the river is the only way to see the Mekong in this part of the world, it is still untouched, miles of farmer and fisherman shacks on the side of the embankments with the very occasional house.

You will be pleased to know that although the day has been hot, Jesus it gets cold at night, down to about 10 deg (which is low for what I have been used too). Its so funny that all the backpackers who have done the same sort of route as me and come up from the beaches, are all wearing jeans t-shirts 2 jumpers and trying to find a restaurant or bar that is warm or has fire buckets under the tables. All the buildings just have open fronts with shutters and no windows, as normally it’s a lot hotter but this is the middle of winter! (I can handle winters like this).

Well got to go and be a tourist around town again, as I can not do any tours (Nina gone on a trekking one today), so I will do a few more temples! Just thought her face yesterday when I bumped into her in town after missing the flight was classic! Luckily she saved me again as she had found another room that was cheaper but it had 3 beds! Otherwise it would have been a march around town trying to find somewhere to stay!

Last post for me from Laos I hope otherwise I am going to miss my UK flight................ hmmmm 6 months in Laos!!!!! Maybe!

M