Good afternoon Loas

Sabaii dee from Laos!

Hope you are all well.

Bangkok was great, a bit manic but it seems to work. Did all the tourist bits and visited the giant reclining Buddha and the kings palace as well as the cheesy bits on the Khao San Road. Food was excellent, dirt cheap and didn't taste like cheap dirt.

We have been in Luang Prabang in Laos for nearly a week. Its very different, much more relaxed and laid back, so we have been taking it easy in the heat. The town is really nice, a UNESCO world heritage site on account of the many ancient Buddhist temples in the centre. we have lost count of the number of Buddhist temples we have visited including Nepal and Thailand, we almost know the chanting off by heart.

We have been on a boat trip today to the Pak ou caves and also to the Kuang Si Waterfall, both very beautiful even if the Tuk Tuk Driver did get lost and take us on the scenic route through the bus station instead of the pier, which turned out to be about 50 yards from our guesthouse. There's 40 minutes we will never get back. There are lots of rather nervous looking Americans here, not surprising considering they dropped more bombs here than they will ever own up to. In fact, we were having breakfast the other day when we heard a commotion and a voice on a loudhailer. The manager of the hotel came out looking a bit worried (and a bit like Thaksin Shinawatra) and told us all to get inside; they had found an unexploded American bomb. It was on the opposite river bank from our hotel. The army turned up and exploded it about 30 minutes later. We had a great view from our room, (although we missed the photo opportunity, oops!). It wasn't a big bomb, but it made a hell of a bang! the hotel manger was quite nonchalant though, as it was the second so far this year.

Other than that the only incident of note was a small lizard falling off a wall and landing on Urv's hair, which I think is good Kharma, as she probably saved it from certain death. Heading off to Vang Vieng later in the week, before going to the capital Vientiane and then Vietnam. Now there is some alliteration for you. We will keep bogging and editing the previous trekking post to complete the day to day diary.

Take care and love to all.

Urvy and Pete. XX.