Luang Prabang and East Laos
Trip Start
Feb 07, 2005
1
7
43
Trip End
Aug 24, 2005
Vieng Xai,
Lao Peoples Dem Rep
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
From Luamg Prabang, we took a public bus to Phonsavan (8hrs) through the windiest mountains i think i've ever seen. We stayed over night here and caught the early morning bus to Sam Neua near the Vietnamese border. This journey was definately the worst journey i have ever encountered - again 8 hrs through eqully winding roads but the bus had no suspension as a result of the driver - who i'm sure was high on opium - thinkin he was a rally car driver, rich coming from me i know, but my driving is tame by all comparisons!!! We had to stop for lunch along the way and was not at all surprised to discover the driver changing 2 broken wheels!! The horn on these things belong to a ship and are used at every single corner as the bus speeds up, there is nothing between a vertical drop and my window
Air Conditioning for Royalty
. Imagine a rollercoaster with no seat harness or rails to stick to and you're getting close!! It was a massive relief to get of that thing!!! We ventured from there to a place called Vieng Xai where the President of Laos and his closest colleagues had hid during the bombings in the 60s by the Americans. With no electricity - a power cut happened on both days we were there - we saw the caves by torch and candlelight, they were bare to look at but a bit of imagination and you got a strong feeling of what it must've been like to live there for 9 years!! Land mines are still very prevalent and limbless locals is a common sight - seems the Americans have neglected to go back and tidy up! We actually bumped into Dave and Mel in Sam Neua in one of the restaurants recommended in the Lonlely Planet, so we spent the eveing catching up and will probably do so again in Vang Vieng. 
