water buffalos chilling

Bens sandcastle

Vietnam

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Ben' s happy!!

After a relatively simple border crossing which including a bizarre $1 bribe to the immigration official we travelled into Vietnam.  Immediately it was busier and more densely populated than Laos.  We arrived in Hue along the east coast mid afternoon and explored the city.  Scooters rule and you take your life in your hands trying to cross the road.  Basically take a deep breath and leg it!  All the traffic didn't stop a few of us hiring bikes though and cycling to the nearest beach 15k away.  It's a great ride through villages and lagoons to arrive at a scenic beach, which we had all to ourselves.  Ben was very excited and reverted back to his childhood, which for him wasn't long ago, and spent most of the day careering wildly between swimming in the sea, building sandcastles and making the sand squeak!! Actually so did I and my childhood was long ago. A great few hours were passed relaxing in the warm water before cycling back.  This was followed by a lively evening in the DMZ bar celebrating the safe return of our leader Pete with everyone in party mood.  Many cocktails and beers were consumed and lots of dodgy dancing followed.  Somehow Ben lost his shoes! Next day I managed to persuade a few poor souls to accompany me again to the beach, although James looked terrified as we weaved in and out of the traffic  and Simon apparently could only cycle slowly because he kept losing his hat!!  Not convinced about that one.  Hue overall is a very nice place, busy and vibrant, bit too noisy at peak times when the scooters all use their horns to excess but never the less interesting.  A short trip along the coast has bought us to Hoi An.  Arriving at a hotel, where they have put a welcome banner up, provided free cocktails and a swimming pool can't be bad.  A quick dash into town to get a few clothes made up by the local tailors provided plenty of amusement.  Maggs was not amused however to be charged more for her clothes than mine due to size issues, made me giggle though.  The good news is bikes are cheap to hire so whilst most people are taking the cultural option today I shall go exploring on my bike.  I'm sure I can find a beach.

Who needs gameboys!!

Ben and Kaye enjoying the longboat.

Goodbye to Laos

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Bens gets muddy.

We're loving it honestly!!

                                          

A great couple of days back to basics in bamboo huts in the Phu Hin Bun national park and a brief ovenight stop at Savannakhet heralded the end of our time in Laos.  The scenery in this part of the world is amazingly beautiful, lush mountains enclosing fast flowing rivers, rice paddy fields galore amongst the bamboo huts.  It sounds a bit overdramatic but at times it really does take your breath away. I've loved everything about Laos.  The people, though obviously poor, are happy with the whole village working together.  All the children play together, without the need for electronic toys, and you can feel the community spirit.  Even the animals get on with water buffalo, dogs, pigs, chickens and cats all sharing homes.  It truely is a great country very chilled and I was sad to leave.  Oh and the food is great as well!

Vientiane

Currently in Vientiane, capital of Laos.  We arrived here after a couple of days at Viang Vang, a young, very young backpackers paradise, full of bars offering cheap cocktails, spliffs and bags of opium!!  I declined these offers in favour of the Lao beer but it's definitely not my sort of place.  I did get a cheap pair of Billabong shorts though so not all bad.  The main focus of Viang Vang is the tubing on the river passing lots of bars on the way.  I opted for the safe option of a stroll with the Barry., Pauline and Dennis, whilst many of the other ( younger) guys took the tubing option.  They all came back in good spirits especially Ben and thankfully in one piece. 
Vientiane is relatively small for a capital city but quite chilled and quaint.  A group of us hired bikes and cycled to the Buddha sculpture museum 25k out of town. Nice and flat cycling which was lucky on bikes with no gears and we only got lost once( apparently my fault!). Bit hot in places, at one point my legs started to sizzle, but good fun. Buddha sculptures were bizarre to say the least, but then I'm not very cultural.  Next couple of days will see us travel to the national park for hopefully even more great scenery.