Laoey Laoey, you're so Laoey!

Sabaidee! (That's 'hello' in Lao. Don't say I don't teach you nuffin.)

I've been in Laos now for a week and it is a breath of fresh mountain air after the full-on three weeks in Cambodge. We're currently in Vang Vieng, a tiny little town by the Nam Song (river) and some massive, most impressive limestone mountains. The main attraction of this town, apart from its absolutely perfect setting, is the tubing - you hire a massive old rubber tube for $3.50 and spend the day floating down the river (usually quite slowly. In fact sometimes, since it is the dry season, you simply stop in a deep spot or get beached on the rocks in a shallow part). The sounds of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2, trance music and the echoiing calls of "BeeeeeerLao, BeeeerLao!" come and go as you pass the many little bamboo bars. When you decide you want to stpo at one, a man with a long bamboo pole will fish you out and there you sit, for hours, drinking (tho i've been sick so i've just been watching the others drink!), and mucking around on their giant swings and flying foxes. Chris, he of the waterproof camera, will hopefully have some good piccies of this soon.