Vang Vieng

The weather here is a bit hit and miss at the moment. Temperatures remains warm but its a bit hazy much of the time.

Spent Saturday sightseeing around Luang Prabang and wandering the night market - which is excellent. Many things were to my taste as they had wonderful colours - but there is only so much luggage you can squeeze in to my bag. Bought a couple of paintings but am worried about their condition when I get home.

Sunday we travelled from lP to Vang Vieng. The trip was only 150 miles but up winding passes through the mountains so it took 6 hours. Some of the scenery was magical - limestone peaks rising out of the valleys. Real film scenery. It still amazes and humbles to see the villages perched on the side of the road. This is real subsistence living. Wood houses. No running water, a lightbulb and a bit of a good temperament I think. The poverty is amazing. They harvest whatever grows naturally around here and as you can imagine they all look a bit thin and undernourished. We don't need reminding how lucky we are..

Today have spent the day sightseeing around the town. This morning visitied more caves in the hills where the local people and the communist army sheltered (hid ) during a variety of wars. They were very impressive , although in the rainy season less so I think.

This afternoon (its Monday afternoon here) went tubing on the river. Basically sitting in a tube and floating down the river. I went on my own and joined up with whoever else was doing it. I think i raised the average age of the group by about 5 years. All backpackers. There appeared to be 2 concurrent trips. You were supposed to float 4km down the river. However, most people floated 100m down the river to the first bar, had a beer (40p) and played around on the rope swings. Then on to the next bar , another 50m, more beer. And again. By the third bar I decided my limit had been reached - yes I drank Lao beer which tasted rubbish - and floated off down on my own. 1 hour in a bar was enough, and the music was BLOODY LOUD. Not showing my age at all ... The journey was ace. Limestome peaks all the way down one side of the river, floating through a whole load of Lao people fishing and harvesting seaweed or river cabbage or something like that. Also floated through 2 herds of water buffalo. Brilliant.

Off to Vientaine the capital tomorrow and then to Hanoi in Vietnam - where its 14C. Fleece here I come.

Noticed your weather is unseasonally mild at the moment...