Laos #2

11 months later, and it's LIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Reunited at last.

Spent a week with Lia travelling around Laos. And it was bloody fantastic, let me tell you. Unfortunately didn't take any pictures for Vang Vieng... figured my camera probably wasn't safe outside..

Kouang Si Waterfall

Black bears at Kouang Si Waterfall

Cave

Having spent a significant amount of my travel time in underdeveloped countries, i've come to appreciate Australia's sense of order and professionalism. Laos has definitely adopted a different systematic lifestyle approach, yet somehow everything seems to resolve itself in the end..

The local pharmacy

The local carpark

The local casino

The local taxi

The local manicurist

The local supermarket

Phou Si (Luang Prabang)

Berlin

Finally, a computer that works! Hung out with Aussie girl, Ro, last week exploring all the amazing street art, techno clubs, weird bars and great food that Berlin has to offer.

Asian tapas

Artist squat house

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp

Chocolateria - Ro

East side traffic lights

Checkpoint Charlie

Street Art cafe

Laos

Well that's a pain. I can't seem to find computers that allow me to upload pictures, so for now you're just going to have to try imagine where i am.

I'll give you a clue: it's hot. 30 degrees hot. And the Laosian food is pretty friggin' good.

Yes i'm in Laos, and it's fantastic. Met up with Lia a few days ago, and after a shaky start thanks to Thai Airways (i.e. a broken suitcase) we've had a pretty awesome time. So far we've covered Vientiene, where we stayed with some of Lia's friends, then tubing in Vang Vieng (for those who've been there, you'll know what i'm talking about) and now we're at our final destination in UNESCO World Heritage Luang Prabang for Christmas eve.

And that's about it. Before I bore you anymore, i'll sign off and ensure that my next post will have some imagery. Seeing the guys from home in a few days, can't wait!

Speak soon!

Catch Up

Sincere apologies - mostly to mum and her extensive email group - for slacking off on my blog. It's been a crazy few weeks. I've attended a mass at the Church of Blood in Bruges, where i took part in the worshipping of (allegedly) Jesus' blood. I was somehow convinced into spending a few days in Brussels with Thomas, a friend from Guatemala, where we drank absinthe, ate belgium waffles and toured the city with his family. I also stayed in a dodgy €7 hostel where i had some credit cards, jewerly and other sentimental stuff stolen overnight by some DOUCHE BAG (making it the 3rd police station i've visited since i left Aus). I've stacked it in the snow 7 times in the 5 days i've been in Berlin and finally, i stupidly deleted all 1700 photos off my memory card, purely because i didn't understand german for 'delete all'. For this reason i can't offer you some sort of photographic evidence of what i've been up to. Sorry.

And now i'm actually moving on, finishing Europe and GOING TO LAOS with Lia. Looking forward to some serious sun and catching up with friends.

Oh and one more thing... Never again will i utter the words 'it's freezing' during Melbourne's winter, given the -11°C temperature outside i'm about to brave to get to the airport.

Final Snowy Day in Paris

Busking in this weather? Really?

La Cantoche Paname - primary-school themed bar