Laos

Laos – Luang Prabang
Day 1
So after a 9 hour mini van and two days on the slow boat, we have arrived in Laos yay! Feeling very hot and sweaty, we grabbed a tuk tuk and headed from the pier to our guest house. We stayed at Moon’s House Hotel and it was amazing! We had a private room with a/c. The staff were so friendly and made us feel so at home, the location was fab, room was spotless and the bathroom was an actual bathroom and not a wet room! If you ever stay in Luang Prabang, 100% stay here – another cheap place too! We said we’d stay in dorms if we needed to but the private rooms between us work out roughly the same price.

I was almost evening time so we walked into the centre to find some food. We ate at a street stall restaurant – the food in Laos is pretty much thai food so went for that. The prices are also cheap like Thailand! After, we strolled around the night market. You couldn’t look at anything for longer than 5 seconds without someone pouncing on you to buy it haha! The stalls all had beautiful handmade objects such as bowls, clothes, cards, slippers and lots more. Again, we couldn’t buy anything but was enjoyable to look around.

Day 2
The main reason we came to Luang Prabang… Kuang Si Waterfalls! We heard it gets very busy so we were early birds again and headed there on a scooter for when it opened! And omg, we were the only ones there! It was absolutely beautiful and a ‘pinch me’ moment! The water was turquoise and clear and the waterfalls were amazing. We took the opportunity to take lots of pictures and swim by ourselves as shortly after, flocks and flocks of tourists arrived. Then, we met up with Asha and some girls we were on the slow boat with and hiked up a mountain in flip flops! Ouch! Outside there was a bear sanctuary, which was incredible to see! There were many black bears sleeping and also fighting with each other! I was a little nervous haha.

Later that day, we went back to freshen up and head out for sunset. We went to a view point and sprinted up to the top (sweaty messes again). It was a decent sunset but unfortunately so overcrowded so we could barely move! We ended the night at a food market and found a buffet for 20,000 kip (just under £2) winning! It is so hard to get used to new currency and this one makes us feel rich!

Day 3
Today, we did a wash at a laundrette for the first time! It was 10,000 kip (under £1) per kilo and smelt reasonably good!

We went out and about to book transport to Vang Vieng for tomorrow. Its still a weird feeling arriving somewhere then the day or day after that booking a departure transport haha. There are tourist places everywhere and they all have various prices for the same trip so we always look around and still try to haggle.

It was so hot this day so we decided to buy a cap! Then, we stopped at a cafe for a shake and to use their wifi! Neither of us have bought sims and probably wont buy one so have to rely on wifi. And we finished the day with more free temples and more street food! Not quite bored of thai food just yet so making the most of cheap food while I can!

Day 4
Laos – Vang Vieng
Our mini van picked us up at 9.30am and took us to Vang Vieng. We always make sure we have bought snacks beforehand to take on the journey! The journey was 4 hours and the man said the mini van would stop for a toilet half way through and 3 hours in, we hadn’t stopped and I needed a wee so bad! The roads were SO bumpy, which didnt help haha but eventually we stopped!

In Vang Vieng, we stayed at Magic Monkey Hostel and had a private cabin thing with a fan. It was relatively clean and okay. The main reason we booked it was because it had a swimming pool over looking the mountains! Got there to find the swimming pool wouldn’t be filled for three more days and I wasn’t very happy! It was so hot and I really wanted a swim but never mind.

Excited to explore, we headed out. Vang Vieng seemed much quieter than Luang Prabang and we didn’t realise if we were in the actual centre it was that quiet! I bought a mango shake for 50p. I am literally obsessed with these fruit shakes and they are so cheap!

In the evening, we had food at a restaurant. It came out on a fancy plate and I was so excited! But wow eventhough it looked fancy, it tasted so bad. Both of us are not fussy eaters and will eat anything but it was not nice!

We walked to Asha’s hostel to say hello and somehow ended up on a night out. I did not look ready enough for a night out but hey ho that’s the fun of travelling! It was such a good night! Drinks were about £1-£2 so we had a few. We met some lovely people and danced with lots of the locals! One couple from Shropshire were staying at our hotel so we walked back with them after chatting as it was about a 20 minute walk.

Day 5
For some reason, we booked tuning at 10am (not the best of ideas with sore heads). Tubing is basically sitting in a rubber ring and floating down the Mekong River. Lots of people drink whilst doing it but we had more of a chilled sober ride. The tuk tuk driver dropped us and our rings off at the river and with no one else with us, we had no idea what to do! No one was there to say ‘go’ or anything so we were a little confused but we just went for it. It was really funny as the current kept picking up and it was so choppy at points; we kept losing each other! The sun was shining so I was happy to be tanning my legs. About 1 hour later, a guy was standing at the edge hollering us over so we presumed it was the stop off point. It was so hard to get to the edge and I was really panicking! But luckily, made it! We had a drink at the bar and walked back.

For the rest of the day, we pretty much just chilled out at the pool. As I said, the pool wasn’t filled but there was this tiny very shallow pool so we sat in there and admired the views. Laos has also been very sunny too so was nice to relax.

Our friends from Shropshire, Chloe and Ben, were heading out to a view point for sunset and asked us to go with them so we all hired a scooter and went! It was called Nam Xay. Little did we know about the trek to get up to the view point. Oh my!!!!!!!! Most of the trek up had zero stairs so we had to clamber up rocks with nothing really to hold on to. It was exhausting and very scary. By the time we reached the top, no one was there and it was almost dark. We joked we’d have to camp at the top until the morning! We must have stayed up there for 5 minutes and then needed to hike down. It was pitch black so we had to use the torches on our phones to guide us. It was terrifying as we needed both our hands to climb! Eventually, we made it down and had to laugh about it. There are no lights there and it’s very dangerous so if you ever go wear trainers, take a head torch or just make sure you go way before sunset!

When we arrived back, we went out with Chloe and Ben to an Italian omg our first ‘normal’ food. And wow the pizza was good. More than double the price of thai food but so worth it. My tummy was very happy! We had a lovely night and Chloe and Ben are so lovely so it was fab to spend time with them.

Day 6
At our hostel breakfast was included but you had to make it yourself, which was interesting in a tiny kitchen and lots of other tourists haha. Once we’d ate, we headed to blue lagoon number 3. Basically a beautiful natural lagoon with lots of zip lines and places to jump in! We went on the scooter and my gosh what a ride! An hour of off track driving with plenty of bumps that resulted in a sore bum for me!

We stayed there for a couple of hours and Chloe and Ben met us there. It was lots of fun! I enjoyed watching Lewis failed attempts of back flips haha.

In the evening, we gave our scooter back and walked into the town to find food. We met up with Chloe and Ben again and we all had street food near the market. Even though I have tried plenty of dishes, my fave is still thai green curry so I went with that again! We all then treated ourselves to some pancakes with nutella. The chocolate here is very limited so nutella pancakes are my chocolate fix for now!

An early night was in order because we needed to pack ready to go to Vientiane tomorrow. We never fully unpack apart from our toiletries but it’s harder each time to squeeze everything in! Vang Vieng was one of our fave places because of the people we met and memories we made.

Day 7
Laos – Vientiane
9.30am pick up! Usually when we go from place to place, we have a little mini van however this time we had an actual coach! Travelling in style! I slept for the whole 4 hours ahhhh.

Our hotel was called New iHouse Hotel. It was a recommendation. The room was clean, modern, with AC and it had a kettle (our first kettle!). Although, it was very small! The bathroom was the worst bathroom tho. Most bathrooms we’ve had have been a small wet room style but this SO was tiny! It had a buffet breakfast and a pool so cant complain too much!

Pretty much straight away we met up with Asha. She is travelling solo but we always seem to be in the same places or travelling together! It’s been fab! Anyway, we got a tuk tuk to Buddha park. It’s a beautiful garden and literally full of buddha statutes! We got there at 4.30pm and we didn’t realise it closed at 5pm oops so quickly we rushed round!

When we arrived back, we went for dinner and had a right nightmare! We found this lovely place to eat and was just ready to order when everyone kept looking at something outside. Interested, we stepped outside and electrical cables up above were on fire! And it kept getting bigger! We dashed onto the street somewhere safer and all of a sudden, it exploded and lots (including the restaurant’s) lights went out! All the locals had extinguishers and tried putting it out. 15 mins later, still no fire engine but the locals thankfully put it out. Woah there were cables dangling all over the roads! At least no one was hurt. After all the drama, we found an indian and had a curry!

Day 8
Feeling tired, we had a lazy morning chilling. You definitely need it sometimes. We had to plan our next accommodation and a few other bits.

Around midday, we headed to the market. It wasnt that great and we felt like we were being watched by people. So clutching onto our bags, we soon headed back out and spent another hour or so wandering around. Vientiane was our least favourite place in Laos. Very city like, not a lot of street food, quite busy and not really a lot to explore or relax at. Although, I managed to do a free book swap and get a new book so I was happy!

Anyway, in the evening we met up with Asha again and had food. We were being indecisive and couldn’t decide but in the end we had a falafel pita with hummus and salad!

Day 9
2.20pm flight to Vietnam! It was around £90 but we didn’t fancy a 25 hour bus journey so paid the extra!

Laos exceeded little expectations we had. Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng were amazing! Now for the crazy Hanoi!

Laura and Lewis x