23
Apr 05

Getting here was half the adventure!

Looks like Lonely Planet and my sources were wrong. Laos DOES have Internet access via satelite, albeit slower than an SM. 😉

Anyway, just thought I’d let everyone know that I got to Luang Prabang safe and sound. Longest journey of my life but probably the most fun and interesting and beautiful.

Started off getting the bus to Chiang Rai where we got a rickshaw to Chiang Khong. Stayed there the night and met a lot of people going the same way (We were all on the package tour anyway!)

Next morening, pretty damn early we left Thailand and got a little boat over to immigration in Laos. After a nice healthy 10 mins of waiting and processing, we were finally in Laos….but trust me, nowhere NEAR our final destination.

Got a tuk tuk to the pier where we waited for our boat. After getting 80 people onto a 40 people, most people decided it was unsafe and got off. They finally arranged a bigger boat for us while some opted for teh speedboat. The boat was still overcrowded and uncomfortable but we got a great group on it. About one hour in when aeveryone started to get drunk, everyone started moving around, playing guitar and talking and finding each others “Story” (Story being the standard set of questions you ask other travellers…where are you from, where have you been so far in SEA and howlong are you travelling. )

For me its great because I have been most places everyone is heading! I fucked it up by going to Cambodia and Vietnam first! So anyway….
We stopped in a really REALLY deserted village (Pekbeng) for the night where we stayed in a hut. There was NO electricity and it was really cool cos it was Laos new year and the whole village was lit up by candles. So beautiful.

next day, the boat journey was great. We all got a different boat but no more comfortable. Everyone made the best of it. Everyone got drunk and got on. Major party. The boat in total tool two days and one night. met up with a few people who arrived by speedboat (Same journey in 6 hours) and they wished they hadda gotten the slow boat. totally worth it. the scenery is like out of the most beautiful dream you could ever have. Amazing. I never knew something soo amazing could still exist on earth. Sorry if that sounds cheesy.

Anyway, got the last two beds in the only dorm in LP. Its CRAZY. Its UNDERGROUND in a bobmshelter! Its so cool though cos its full and the people are really great. We all met up alst night. A group of 20 of us went for food got really drunk and ended up swimming in the mekong out of our faces. How cultural is that.

today we went to see a few temples and relax after the long journey. The city is SOOOOOOOO quiet! Its the most, I mean the MOST peaceful and laidback place I have ever been in my life. All day the city NEVER got out of first gear. Theres no beeping of horns allowed here and whats really strange is that all the westerners stick together because its ILLEGAL for a non-Laos person to be with a Laos person. The Laos person goes to prison and the Non gets deported. its pretty extreme but really refreshing. No nice ladies feigning interest in you for ANY reason and they will only speak on a PURLEY “Hello, how are you? Want to learn Lao?” level. Strange but true. Also, I ahve not seen any police over here. in Pekbeng, a 12 year old boy offered me and SHOWED me weed, cocaine, E and Opium. When I asked him how old he was, he said…”I’m 12, but dont worry, theres no police all the way out here”. Sure enough there wasn’t.

Anyway, everyones waiting for me so I have to go. Sarah, I tried ringing you all day. Too bad, you must have been in work. So heres my update for you. Cannot stay so Ill talk soon. Going to the biggest waterfall in Laos tomorrow. Major party I think. Should be a lot of fun. Probably leaving for Vang Vieng on Monday or Tuesday, this city is way too chilled out. I’ll get hooked. Plus another night of drinking straight (1 euro for a 2 liter bottle) Laos whiskey is not good for any of us. Looking forward to then tubing there, but more on that when I actually do it.

Hope everyone is well. Take care and I miss you all. 😉 Wish you were all here in this great weather. 😉

PS: I hear the pope is a Nazi, is that true?

PPS: I got really badly stung by a HUGE bee today THROUGH my t-shirt. Sympathy anyone?

6 Comments

  1. nicola says:

    hey davie
    just thought id say hey!
    been followin ya around, silently, for ages now and the jealousy is just gettin painful at this stage (im sure not as sore as your ear tho) by the way hope u get better soon.
    ur just an unfortunate bugger, god damn it!!!

    keep it real
    “peas” sends kisses to ya xxx

    nic

  2. Dave says:

    Hey Nicola! thanks for the message. really appreciate it. WAS feeling better until yesterday when we spent the day in a “Natural” waterpark. Ears fucked again. Dont be jealous or silent. You could think about doing this yourself one day. I’m just REALLY REALLY pissed that I have not got more time. No offence to anyone who took offence to that.

    Anyway, Give Mo a big kiss for me too.
    Miss you guys.
    xxxxx

  3. Mamo says:

    Well Dave, you look like you’re having a ball!
    Stay away from that whiskey, it’s not good for you.

    Your head looks sore in the photos, please keep a hat on or your bandana.

    Don’t mind the slaggin’, We’re all just jealous! Do your mammy a favour!
    Smile in your photos! You have a lovely smile, use it.

    Hope you stayed away from that 12 year old boy and his weeds!
    Get vinegar and put it on the bee sting or ALLO VERA!
    if you can find some!!

    That’s all the lecturing I’ll give you for now.

    WAS that you jumping off the waterfall? Hope you’re somewhere nice for your big birthday!

    The weather is starting to improve a bit. It won’t be long til *I’m* out there so, ENJOY!!

    Keep safe, love you, mamoxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    ps. Everyone says hi!

  4. Sarah says:

    You have all the time in the world Dave….dont forget!! xxx

  5. Dave says:

    Hi Mamo, thanks for the message. Yea, I just shaved my head that day so thats why it looks sore. Im being careful. I lost 6 hats so far since Ive been travelling and I lost my bandana in teh waterfall! 🙁

    Im off teh Whiskey now and I did NOT go near the weed!
    Yes, that was me jumping off. Im getting fat amnt I?

    Youll only be in Thailand so nanananana! ; Nah, Thailand is EXCELLENT fun, but Laos is a completely different world.
    Take care.

    ***************************************************

    Sally, I might be dead tomorrow. I have very little time. 🙂

  6. Dave says:

    Oh, And Mammy, Ill smile from now on. I just look sexier when I dont smile. 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 v

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Dave's World Adventure (2.0) is a round the world travelogue (Travel Blog) started by Dave in 2005 and follows Dave as he tries to cover the entire world in different phases starting in South East Asia, then North America followed by the South Pacific and South America.

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