Our last full day in Asia. It is beyond weird to think that in two days (our transit is 36 hours - yay), we will be in Europe, more specifically Portugal. I realised yesterday that since we have been travelling, it has also been the longest time without a surf since I began surfing. I didn't take much notice at first but I think the time has come to get back on the board again - I think my body is hinting at it. Mine and Dave's excitement for Europe culminated while sitting in our rooms yesterday. We both opened our Lonely Planet - Europe on a shoestring books, and within minutes were hooting and doing all kinds of weird actions. I think the heat is finally getting to us.
As I last wrote, we had just spent our first night in the beautiful World Heritage city of Luang Prabang. Our intention was to stay three nights, we ended up staying six. This was due to a few contributing factors. Our hostel, the city itself, the vegetarian buffet at the night market and also the group of people we hung out with at our hostel (a group consisting of a French Canadian, two Americans, an ex-Russian army guy - craziest workouts ever, a German, two other Canadians, four Dutch guys and a handful of British.)
The hostel was run by a local guy named Shampoo, who had possibly the cutest daughter I have ever seen. Any time we said "Saibadee" she would mime the response coupled with a prayer sign. I think some of the girls at our hostel would have taken her with them if they could have. After a few days at the hostel, we felt like we were part of a weird extended family of sorts.
Our days in Luang Prabang reflected the Laos way of life - relaxed and laidback. There was nothing we HAD to do and no time constraints on anything (one of the many beauties of travelling.) One morning Shampoo suggested we go to a local fishing village and do some fishing and tubing - albeit very different to the Vang Vieng style of tubing. Shampoo was definitely sceptical of our fishing ability and as a result we bought enough fish for lunch at a local market on the way there. After unloading the tubes, we drove up the road in pouring rain (which hurts when you are on the back of a truck at 60km/h) while lunch was cooked. Due to the heavy rain, as we floated down the river we found a giant mud waterfall. I was really keen to get a photo underneath it, but I soon discovered that accompanying the mud were fist size rocks and to stand under it was asking to be knocked out.
The following few minutes involved a decent amount of panic on my behalf. I had my waterproof camera with me on the tube, and somehow I managed to drop it in the river - which of course due to the rain is completely brown. I scrambled off my tube and proceeded to shuffle my feet back up the river. Not only was it the loss of an expensive camera - it was also potentially the loss of every photo I took in SE Asia. Dave joined in and suddenly let out a weird noise suggesting he had found it - nope, that was my foot. All of a sudden I found it, catiously picked it up with my toes and counted myself lucky. I would have bought a lottery ticket if i could. And yes, as soon as I got back I backed up all the photos.
Lunch was delicious but it brought with it the first "man-challenge" of our trip - eating chillies. To the horror of one of Shampoo's crew, we downed our first chilli. "It's not so bad...wait a second, oh shit" Many tears later, it was time for number two. "It's not as bad this time...oh, yep, it is, oh man it's worse" As Shampoo would say, "Oh my Buddha!"
The following few days involved a lot of relaxing, a lot of vegetarian buffets and copious mango fruit shakes. It was a weird feeling when we finally left. On the morning, Shampoo laughed and said "Are you actually going today? Or are you staying another night again?" Unfortunately, we eventually had to leave, if we wanted any chance of getting to Europe. It was a strange feeling leaving, as I had developed a real attachment to the place. Apart from Kyoto, it was the place we stayed the longest. As I said farewell to Shampoo's staff at the bus station, I felt as if I was leaving something behind. I haven't had that feeling since Kyoto and it reflects my obvious affection for the place. I think Kyoto and Luang Prabang are my two favourite cities so far.
After a 12 hour journey through the mountains by bus, we arrived in the capital city of Laos, Vientiane. After a massive and ridiculously cheap Indian meal and (I think we are trying to have Indian in every country) and the opening World Cup game, it was time for sleep. The next morning in Vientiane was a weird experience. Upon the suggestion of a British family, we went to the water park. It was almost completely deserted but it meant no queues and we spent a few hours there - something I never expected to do in Vientiane.
That night we met two English people who we made a deal with. We would watch England vs US if they watched Australia play Germany. We found a funny English ex-pat bar called "Hare and Hound" and watched many a pom get unbelievably frustrated with their national team. Max informed me that "Every World Cup we hope will be different from the last, and every time it's the same"
Saying farewell to Asia is a hard thing to do. The people are so friendly and hospitable, and the burden on the budget is small. Someone suggested we should have gone the other way round the world, so Asia would be a relief after Europe. I'm racing the time I have left so this may sound rushed as the clock reads 1:13 left. I'm sure I can better reflect on Asia when I get to Europe. Till then, enjoy reading.
Tom can write :))
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