We arrived in Luang Prabang in the hazy early hours just as the monks made their way through the streets up to the Wat on the hill getting offerings from the locals on their way. We found somewhere to stay and got some sleep as not much was got on the windiest, puke inducing bus ride ever. When every one was more with-it, we explored and found a haven. ‘Utopia’ is a bar and restaurant on a platform overlooking the Mekong and is stunning. Mary, from the Monkey Troop had recommended it as THE place to try Luang Prabang sausage. I was not disappointed and we chilled there all day, playing guitar, drinking iced lemon, eating sausage and singing along to the entire Bob Marley ‘Legends’ album, on repeat.

I loved Luang Prabang. It is a really lovely town with a distinct French feel and very laid back. Everyone goes to bed pretty early though so to get a drink past 10.30 you have to hunt. Well I guess they got to get up and give Monks stuff at 5am.

We went to a nice waterfall in a forest, a weird bear centre and I took too many photographs of the boys larking about. I looked like some sort of pervy pap woman. This happened quite a lot whilst hanging with these boys. Me being snap happy and them being incredibly vain and photogenic lead to some fun times.

One night we had a great Laos BBQ which was audience participation food at it’s best as you get a BBQ in the middle of the table and you either poach things in the broth over the fire or sizzle it on the grill. Excellent stuff. We then found a wine bar that served decent wine and savoured every single expensive drop until they asked us to leave. On the way home, a tuk tuk driver offered us some Opium for 1000Thai Baht. We haggled him down to 80,000 Laos Kip and a free ride home. Olly tried it first as we all sat around like kids watching him light his first ever cigarette. As he unwrapped the clingfilm and sniffed it, his face dropped and we realised we had been duped. What we had was chewing gum with black food dye. Damn you tuk tuk driver! How dare you scam us out of £5.88!

The next morning Billy the kid and I raced up to the Wat at the top of the hill at 6am to catch the monks. We climbed a million steps and got to the top only to realise that we were too early. So we climbed back down and met them at the bottom, near our bloody guesthouse. Nice Monks. I like them. I like orange and it seems to suit all of them. Some of them are on Facebook don’t y’a know? I saw one with Adidas shell-toes and an iPhone for Buddah’s sake.

Bus time again! Yeah! This time down to Vang Vieng for the carnage that is Tubing.

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