Luang Prabang, Laos – Day 12

Its our last day in Laos!! We booked flights last night into Hanoi in Vietnam. Couldn’t get a direct flight so we got one back to that hell hole Vientiane and another back over to Hanoi. Its only a 2 hour stopover which is grand. Did nothing much else for the night, Cats Aoife and Paul went out for a drink, I read my book!

Today was cold. Cold all day. We got a tuk tuk in the morning up to Kieng Shi (i think thats the name) Falls. 1 hour on a tuk tuk hurts the oul bum. We got there and we saw all the bears rescued from poachers…here they are…

Then we saw a tiger which was also rescued from the poachers! Here she is…

Then we found the most amazing sights so far…these watefalls were amazing…

This picture here – i jumped off the top of the waterfall into the lagoon, my battery died when I did it but Aoife has a video which I’ll try get up when I rob her camera, look how amazing it is…

Then you walk up more levels and find different waterfalls and lagoons on every level. This is the highest level and the biggest waterfall (its sideways in the photo), we climbed up to the top and I got in behind the waterfall in a little cave, it was amazing. The others have pictures which I’ll try rob…

We came home after that then climbed to the top of some mountain temple thing, apparently the sunset is amazing from it but, alas, there was no sun coz its so cold! Small amount of steps though check it out…

And Me and Paul got shammed into buy these little baby birds that you’re supposed to release at the top for good fortune or something…they were cool at first but it turns out its just really cruel (FOR THE BIRDS) so we let them go…

Here’s us at the top taking cheezy tourist photos!

Here’s some photo’s of our kayaking yesterday…

Right its taken me well over an hour to do this so im going to find the others and get some dinner or something!

Vietnam tomorrow in the cold, can’t wait (yeah right)

Later dudes,

Ronan

Luang Prabang, laos – Day 11

So we found the  girls yesterday, they had a 4 man dorm booked for us, which was sweet and its also the first time we’re all in together! We then try to get our flights to Hanoi but they’re booked out on Wednesday so it looks like we’re gonna be here til thursday. We then went for dinner in the Lao Lao Gardens, which everyone recommends. We got a bucket of coal put into the centre of our table and then a grill thing on top of it. We cooked our own soup and buffalo and chicken!! YUM YUM then to bed at 10.30…This place has a curfew where all bars shut at 11.30 and you have to be in your accomodation by 12…strange but kind of relieving.

Today we got up at 8.30 in the AM to head off kayaking. We were brought on a bus out to the middle of nowhere and then brought to the river. No instructions or anything (as this is Laos and nobody gives a crap about anything let alone health and safety!) Me and Cats got a 2 man kayak and paul and Aoife were in another one. Obviously me and Cats were way better at it! I cannot describe the heat we had to endure, I think we’re all gonna be a bit red in a while! Also, 4 hours of rowing WRECKS you, we were in bits after 20 mins!! There’s elephants all over the place too which is strange!

Just got a fresh batch of laundry back there – washed,dried, ironed and folded for……..1 dollar!

We’re goin to waterfalls tomorrow for a swim. I’d put up our photo’s of today only my camera is upstairs and they’re the steepest stairs in the world, also this computer is amazingly slow. I’ll get some up tomorrow hopefully!

Miss everyone,

Ronan “Lobster” Healy

Luang Prabang, Laos – Day 9

So it was an early start for me and Paul today. Up at 8 to go get our bus to Luang. The bus was an 8 seater taxi thing (which was recommended over a big coach). So we started driving into the mountains – you should have seen this. There was not a bit of straight road to be seen. Proper hairpin bends the whole way for 4 hours, we thought we’d get a bit of kip or something, we had to hang on for dear life! My arms we’re actually sore!

Amazing sights all the way though, and there are little communities  all the way over the mountains who just seem to cut palm trees all day for some unknown reason. Doubt they even go to school!

Stopped half way to get a roll which was yum (putrid)…

We got here just a few mins ago and were supposed to meet the girls in this bakery but they weren’t there so we came in to see if they mailed us…they’re probably just running late.

It is SCORCHIO here. Very warm…

Think we’re gonna go see some waterfalls tomorrow and swim in a few lagoons, do some cliff diving and generally chill out after the last few days of madness. My body is still in pain and covered in bruises from volleyball, so I need a rest!

Anyways, we gotta go find these two messers.

Later,

Ronan

Vang Vieng, Laos – Day 8.5

We’re booked in for a bus to Luang Prabang first thing at sunrise to meet the girls.

everything is kosher!

Vang Vieng, Laos – Day 8

Morning…

The girls have left for Luang Prabang coz Me and Paul want to stay another day here (coz its amazing). We’re gonna follow them up tomorrow. We’re leaving our cabins today for a cheaper place down the road.

Yesterday was pure brilliance. We got a tuk tuk up to the volleyball bar instead of tubing down to it, played for 3 hours or something then convinced everyone to come out with us. We met them all on this island place with a place called Smile bar and then had a mad laugh for the night….every nation was probably represented there…I’d put up photo’s but again this computer wont let me for some reason?

Gonna go volleyball it again today and probably do the same thing tonight then get a bus in the morning up to the girls.

Tans are coming along OK, we;re very sore all over though from playing.

Love you’s and leave you’s…

 Ronan and Paul

Vang Vieng, Laos – Day 6.5

Hello!

Just back from tubing day 2. Its still as amazing as the first time….

We love it, I reckon me and Paul could stay here forever…there is a few jobs posted but you cant paid…you get free food and free drink…..not really what we’re looking for!!

Met at least (i’m no expert at estimations) a million people today and then we got to  play volleyball for 2 or 3 hours, me and paul are considering joining the national (IRish) team coz we are so good at it!

Didnt even make it past the 5th bar tonight!!

Was gonna put up more pictures but for some reason this computer wont let me….which sucks……

Anyways we’re going to a party on one of the delta islands….

Talk soon

Ronan “Volleyball International” Healy

ps We have an update post coming soon of everything I’ve forgotten to mention because apparentely I forget all the funniest things……………

Watch this space..,

Vang Vieng, Laos – Day 6

FACT: Tubing is the best thing on this planet.

Quote unquote:

Ronan: “Hey Paul, whats the best thing you did today?”

Paul: “Tubing”

Ronan: “Hey Paul, whats the best thing you did this week?”

Paul: “Tubing”

Ronan: “Hey Paul, whats the best thing you’ve ever done in your entire life?”

Paul: “Tubing”!!!

Basically you rent a rubber ring, they drive you 10 km up the river and let you float back. Lots of bars and swings and stuff on the way down. Its brilliant. You meet loads of people, have a mad laugh and try not to drown. I swung off 2 deadly rope swings. Cats did the zip line. Me and Paul spent an hour playing volleyball with strangers from across the globe!!!

That is why we’re going again now.

Also it was pitch black when we arrived back – very cool!

LAOS IS AMAZING.

Here’s a few snaps, i’ll get more up later on…

Right kids, we gotta go have the best laugh of our lives….again.

We’re ringing home later, we may be a bit tipsy however!

Miss everybody.

Ronan “Tubing” Healy!

Vang Vieng, Laos – Day 4

Well we got out of that kip fairly lively…

Even the drive up redeemed Laos for me. The things we saw were amazing, just even the landscape. It was an experience…

Then we arrived in Vang Vieng and immediately got 2 class cabins over looking the river. They are brilliant and miles cheaper than the other places we stayed.

Walking down the street everyone is just selling coke and eggs or chicken on skewers on the side of the street in front of their “houses”. We can clearly see into the house and theres just a chair or two and 4 beds on the ground and a telly. Totally different way of life….

We went for a walk and figured out how to go tubing tomorrow and caving and kayaking the following day then found this bar on the river bank where we lay in hammocks drinking a beer. Unreal.

Paul had to sit beside the driver on the bus up – it was hilarious!

Here’s some photos….

So me and paul are here on our own again coz the girls are asleep! Lightweights!

Miss yáll

Ronan

ps its ROASTING here, dunno how seeing we’re 200 km north….but not complaining

Vientiane, Laos – Day 3.5

So we got here. And to be honest its not what we were expecting. Our friend Leo told us that we’d want to get outta here as fast as possible – he was right.

We got to the airport in Bangkok and went(OOPS) to check in only to be told we were booked in for tomorrow not today – me and cats fault !! so we had to pay another 50 yoyo for a new flight each. Got flying anyway and landed in Udonthani – we then got a taxi to the border. Where we had to fill out forms and got a million stamps in our passports, then got another taxi on the other side  to Vientiane…and we drove in just staring out the window and back at each other. Underdeveloped isn’t the word. Its scarily run down. The place we’re staying is OK. Not enough backpackers around for my liking! And most of the westerners (not that there are that many) are older expats. Its a bit eerie to be honest so we cant wait to get the hell outta here!

We’re catching a bus at 10 in the AM tomoro to Vang Vieng. Thats a happening spot, there’ll be loads of backpackers and lots to do such as tubing, kayaking, caving. Its gonna be fun and im looking forward to it.

No other news really. Paul has a video of what a dump this place is! I’ll link it soon!

Anyway Im gonna try walk home now without getting hounded to buy drugs.

Laters

Ronan

ps it aint that warm – dunno how we’re gonna float down a river in togs for 6 hours…..hmmm