Hi There,
As I'm writing this we have arrived in Cambodja, Siem Reap to be exact to visit one of the seven world wonders: The temples of Angkor. But before all that we crossed another country Lao. We went from Chang Mai to the border and take the VIP night bus to Luang Prabang. now VIP normally means airco and slightly bigger seats compared to the local busses, In this case it wasn't. But all that faided when we arrived, we arrived early morning around 5 and that is also the time when the monks come out of the monestery and collect the food that is given to them by the people. All of this happens in silence with the sunrise around the corner. Very special that we get to see that.
So we spend a few days in this city and we saw all the highlights: the caves, the waterfall, a boattrip over the Mekong. Because Loa used be a french colony the food in Luang Prabang is delicious and ofcourse because it's a city. So we had baguettes, crossaints and hold you're knickers Buffalo Steak Tartare! Yammie😃. After this we went to Vang Vieng, this used to be crazy, partyplace, full of drugs and people dying and drowning, but not anymore thank God. So when we arrived we thought we could do something sporty so went on a tour that includes, visiting the caves, (yes they have caves two) tubing and kayakking. We had our own guide Pong who went with us. Everything was fine untill we had to kayak. Yes what you're thinking happend. So here we are in the kayak everything is going smoothly thinking what a good team we are. Pong was also in an another kayak right next to us. And of a sudden the water turns into this strong current and we were on the right side near the bank. And we were going fast so I started yelling (I sat In front) we gonna hit the bank, we gonna hit the bank and yes! BAM hitting the bank the kayak turns ande we're under water. As I try to come up ( Frank was already up) the kayak hits me on my head so I'm under water again, and I fall down ofcourse I manage to come up. The water wasn't deep because it's dry season so I could stand. As we stand in the water trying to get our stuff together, we got help from to local kids we dove in the water to help us find everything. Thank you very much and thankfully we had waterproef bags. As all of this happend you propably wonder where was Pong, Well Pong was on the other side of the river, the safe side and laughing his bony ass of! Seriously not Funny yet!!!! Jeez, ok it was funny we both had to laugh. So that was our kayak adventure, not doing that anytime soon.
So we left Vang Vieng, me with huge egg on the head, to go to Vientiane the capitol of Lao, only to go down to the Islands for Lao New year. On our way to the Islands we had to make a stops to spend the in to most creepy hotel ever, in Thakeak. This was an old Mansion, French style ofcourse, we were the only guest except for one huge dead cockroach. We already payed cause we booked online. We stayed one night. The next day we went to Pakse in a local which was hilarious, everything goes on that bus, alive roosters in a box with airholes, plastic bags files with coffee and even a moterbike down the aisle. When we're we visited the What Phu temples. And from there it was finally time to go to the Islands. Which was a hassle because we got dropped of at the wrong spot, there was a bridge going to our Island which apperantly nobody knew about. That's what I mean with laidback Lao everything Goes really slow and nobody really cares, wrong spot ooh ok just wait an hour and you'll get picked up again. Wanna go now pay extra. I mean their laidback not stupid. when we finally arrived at to right Island it was time for a week of fun! We met Some great people along the way so we got to spend time with them cause we were all on the same Island, hotel even😄. Then it was time for New year, this goes with a lot of water you throw at people and other way around,(and you have waterpistol fights with the kids) to wash away you're sins from the past year, and to get blessed for the New year. We're lucky to get invited by the locals to wash the buddha in their temple. We went there by boat, and you wash the buddha's with rose water, yet again for good luck and blessings. We felt very blessed that day! And ofcourse all of this goes with a lot of food and lost and lost of beer and local spirits. This was three days, on the third day we said our goodbyes to all this great people that we met and moved on to Cambodja where we are now. But that is a for another time.
Talk to ya soon,
Love J
