Laos - my new favourite place

So clearly this is the result of some serious partying on Zoe and Susans veranda late one night. We stayed at this cool place along side the river (but don't ask me where because you can get much better detail from some body else's blog). It had great restaurants, a great feel and some real charector. The rooms we stayed in were basic but perfectly functional, had a great fan and large mosquito net to keep those nasty mozzies away. This tiny resort also had a pill box used to protect the river and bridge in those nasty war days long ago past.

Apart from this big fella sleeping on the job at the back of a buddist temple, all the statues were covered in white cloths for some reason which we could not fathom, so as with this kind of trip. Don't ask too many questions and just go with the flow and everything will be fine.

All the temples in Laos were just fantastic and beutifully decorated. There are monks yound and old everywhere. We even spotted one having a crafty fag!

Young monks like all monks seem to be busy in study and I assume walking from lesson to lesson are seen all day on foot carrying small bags. Early each morning they tour the town in long rows for alms. Their food bowls are huge and all the same size, so the little monks really struggle to carry their big brass bowls - very humbling.

Loas has seen some amazing thunderstoms, when they come you either need to be in bed or in a restourant for a long time and wait patiently for the heavy rain to stop. Having another beer while you wait is the road to ruin but jolly good fun.

So Denis and I are accomplished local foodies. We walk far and wide to get local street grub and at rock bottom prices. This place in Nan Prabang was off the beaten track, you ate what was given too you, along with all the fancy herbs and spices. But a word of warning, put small amounts of chilli in and then taste. Not like I did and blew my head off, hence the very refreshing cool coconut drink we both slurped on.

So we have just arrived in Vinh which is in Vietnam. Just got back from a super lunch and now its time for a well earned snooze.