May 3rd-6th '06
hey just arrived in Vientiane, the first city since Phenom Penn...

Just had a completely crazy bumpy mucky adventure....mission difficult!! We went 4m Thakek to Kon Lor cave.....where u say? Why its in the middle of knowhere...we had to get a tuk tuk (sawthaw or what ever they're called) 2 Na Himh village (on the way to Vietnam), then try to find any form of transport to take us to Kon Lor village. Bare in mind not many people speak english or french in these rural villages. A 10 yr old lil scout was r saviour...he spoke really gd english n was able to translate 4 us...yay! So we eventually got a local to take us to the nearest village to the cave where we were told we could find a homestay. The form of transport....a tuc tractor boat cart vehicle...we liked to call it that anyway. 7 of us plus all r huge rucksacks...imagine us all squished on an old wooden cart pulled along by a tractor only at the front 4 about 5/6hrs....having 2 get out at times when it was far too mucky n slippy with the weight of us... Then we arrived at this village, payed r driver n he was away. We were greeted by the lovely friendly villagers, once again no english at all....tried to find the homestay when a man appeared who spoke v gd english n had an expensive resort, $15....yeh, in the middle of know where...nothing special at all. So being backpackers...we wanted to go on to the homestay we were told about near the cave... only 4 km away they say... So we find another local farmer 2 take us on to Kon Lor village in yet another tracter mobile. It's now sunset n the roads/tracks have been bad...but we were in 4 a treat..a small river in a steep valley...we all had to get out n push in the slippery slimey mucky water, just about managing to keep r balance! Then as darkness fell we were all hoppin about the back as we went through paddy fields...ouch! Yeh what ever about 4km..it took over 2hrs to get there, tho we did have to get out n push frequently... When we eventually got to the homestay they made us a miserable amount of fish 4 3 times the price in Laos n we hadn't eatin much all day..we all slept v v well, tho we did hear mice n in the morning I found my toothpaste in the corner of the hut chewed to bits....nice mice!

So....was it worth it?? Well if ur lookin 4 an adventure, u've got time n money, u wanna meet the real Lao people then yeh. The cave is amazing, bit like something u'd see in Lord of the Rings..v dark n spooky n we had crappy torches n it was so shallow at times that we had to get out n walk through the black inky water.....scary! We visited another lil village where they offered us some sticky rice, fish n fried frog...later they knocked fresh mangoes out of the trees 4 us, yummy n sweet.

So another adventure to get back but this time we took a tiny boat, only takes 3 plus r big bags as always...so much more relaxing n quicker than the ol cart tracter tuc tuc tho we did have to get 1 but only 4 1hr of our journey, not so bad! Still feel my bones rattling after all that hoppin about...

In Asia, there's always the unexpected around the corner... I'm headin to Tadlo tomoro where I'll prob stay 4 a few days...There's a beautiful waterfall there n mts all round so should be lovely....

U know the last few journeys have been hilarious....we got a tuk tuk bus, people sittin on the roof with bags n chickens. We're sittin below hip to hip with the next person, kids on laps with a load of baskets full of fish (some alive n splashin about!), plus loads of other bags of veggies, spices n god knows what...then they put a plank of wood (old bus seat) on top of the baskets in the centre, just when we were thinkin there's no way they can fit any more (joking that a few other's can surely fit!!!ha ha!!!) What do ya knnow....more people...more seats, makes sense!!! So we're on r merry way when 1 of the girls notices that something wet is droppin 4m the roof....there's a tiny rip in the roof so the chicken's poo can come through....ha ha ha!! lovely! Then BANG! The tire burst's so we all have to get out in the middle of knowhere, all these lil kids peerin out 4m there homes on the farms, looking at all the strange foreigner's. We have a wee smoke n then back on the road. So u think nothin else can happen eh! Well suddenly there's a scramble...(remember those bags with GOD KNOWS WHAT!!?)....at 1st we thought it was a snake but it was a huge lizard which managed to escape...but was v quickly caught again by the tough business lady.

Anyway Don Det was so fab. Imagine steppin back in time...before electricity ( bar a few restaurants mind u..) Loads of lil huts but nothin comercial like most other places. The Loas people r still living there unchanged 4m tourism (YET!) Washin in the Mekong river... kids playin by the river. Small boats tied together 2 make a bigger raft to transport goods...

Because of the new yr they celebrate 5 days b4 n 5 days after so nothin is open n everythin is more expensive, They throw water over any1,talc powder n red face paint/lipstick... so there's no escaping. Then of course the beer Loa n worse again Lao lao.... So u have to drink all that is in the glass!!! There tradition.. We were invited to a local families house where we were warmly welcomed with a shot of lao lao n then a baby n a bottle to feed the baby, gas! Of course we were stoppin to party with other locals along the way...all so friendly. It was sooo lovely to really experience the Loas people, there culture n so much more. We then had the children with us 4 the rest of the day....while the mother's may disapear...free babysitter eh!!! But it really was grt.

We were invited to a ceremony where they throw rice, give white bands 4 gd luck....lao lao...trad Laos music verses techno...hilarious!

We were then invited to a "FARANG" (Foreigner) Wedding. 2 peeps, An Aus fella n Norweign girl who met on Don Det just 3 days previously....yeh three days!!! I hear ya... They were lookin at the menu ( I've got a photo, its so funny!) in Mr Vath's restaurant when they saw "happy wedding party" n thought (as ya do!) why not get married...

So big ceremony like the others...rice, good luck bands, lao lao, techno music (only 4 a while as we put r own music on too) Then the bride n groom jumped off the diving board into the Mekong....takin the plunge alright! ( of course it was myself n Anais, the french girl I'm travellin with at mo, who started the diving craze just B4 the ceremony...ha ha ha!!!) MAD!!!!!

Just got to Phenom Penn yest. Was stayin on a v quiet tiny untouristic island called Rabbit Isl, off Kep, near the Vietnamese boarder, with only 2 dif places to stay with lil huts n 2 tiny restaurants with delicious fresh seafood....literally straight 4m the sea...grt! We got yummy crab, which took about 1 hr to get n then took us over 2hrs to eat...so funny!

We sat with the locals havin their local home made rice wine by candle light,them teaching us Khamer while we're teachin them english....so lovely! Havin a wee sing song. We got bikes back to to Kampot where we then got the bus (when we got in,the door fell off...but not to worry, they fix everything,gas!) here.

Last nite we went clubbin in a huge Cambodian club. We were the only tourists. Half way through the nite the dj stops n these "bands"come out...with supporting dancers in the backgound. 6 gorgeous tiny girls in lil matching red mango outfits then the 6 boys with matchin red Adidas jumpers n hats...so hilarious. Most of the songs sound the same too....funny night dancin away...r big clumsy selves amongst the petite cambodians. 1 of the lads was doin a grt demo pole dancing.....until he tore a huge hole in the crotch of his pants...oh yeh! Real classy alright!

Just wandered through the markets here today...mad! I luv it, tho the heat is defo out in full force today. U know I had my camera stolen....I was on the beach n a load of v v cute....cheeky kids came along...playin n chattin with us...so we wer fully aware that we had r bags...I had taken some pix of the kids so they new I had a camera. When we wer leavin they came n gave us big huge hugs...we were surrounded. They opened my bag, I felt around but all seemed to be there. IT wasn't until I got bak to the guest hse that I noticed that they managed to take my camera....so annoying. So many lovely pix gone!

Just havin a blast....chillin on more beaches...partyin on till the wee hrs...being introduced to the Cambodian way of celebrating their new yr....lots of talc powder on any 1 at any time....plus freezing water....and of course a dip in the sea if its convenient (or not as the case may be)....grt craic altogether....