Saturday 28th Feb - 2nd day Laos (Mekong.)

Saturday 28th Feb - 2nd day Laos (Mekong.)

Last night was really quite amusing even though I got about zero hours sleep. Jack basically snored, or breathed so heavily he may as well have (not to mention the occassional snorts that were so loud they even woke him up), Jonathan (despite saying if he was by a wall he would stick like glue to it) still managed to flail around and toss and turn on an extermely bouncy mattress that felt like a trampoline every time the tiniest movement was made and Tom, well actualy he was as quiet as a mouse. But yeah the bed was possibly the worst in my whole time in south east asia. I made up for it though on the ferry, borrowing Jacks sleeping bag to catch up on a couple of hours contorting my body into various interesting positions aboard in a bid to stay warm (was very cold at first especially with the wind) and be sufficiantly secure to fall asleep. Se all started off in our seats but soon were draped in every possible places including the engine room which was so loud you had to shout to hear each other.

It was a good 8 hours later we finally arrived in Luang Prabang. I think this is where I will begin to experience true Laos as I have to say my experiences thus far have not been great in interactions with the locals even though its been a right laugh with the gang I am hanging out with. I met even more people on the boat (why can't it be this easy to chat to strangers in england?) including a 60 year old american disheartened with the credit crunch in america and taking pride in hanging out with other budget travellers. He was a really nice guy and even gave me some cookies as I was so hungry it's weird this last couple of days my appetite has really increased which isn't gonna help my budget I wonder if it is my pills.

We went out for a meal in Luang Prabang which was quite realistically the best meal I have ever had in my entire life. Possibly because I was so ridiculously hungry possibly because it was al fresco, but it was a real experience in itself, cooking one's own noodles and vegetables and bufallo meat and pork and chicken on a fire in a pot on a fire in the middle of the table in a style much more sophistated than a camp fire! Me and Bas shared a dish that claimed to be 'more than enough for 2 people' and actually should have been, and Jonathan and Durex shared the same, but we still ordered more noodles and meat it was just soooo delicious and we thought sod the budget we had spent 2 days on a boat and felt like treating ourselves.

I also had the first glass of decent red wine my whole trip and overall felt like I was in some sort of seventh heaven. This was travelling this was the life.

Best thing: Being given a lonely planet guide to south east asia by Tom and also the evening Laos meal.
Worst thing: Yelling to Robbie 'Johnny' repeatedly in the bar to get his attention in Luang Prabang after bumping into a crowd from Thailand... and everyone hearing I got the name wrong...embarassing.

Money spent: 60 baht (banana pancake) (1.20) 40 baht lunch sandwich (80 Pence), 5000 kip 3 waters (40p), 40,000 kip accomodation (3.20). 6.20 so far...then 10,000 beer (80 pence) and 90,000 meal (7.20) TOTAL: 13.60