From Vang Vieng

Internet speeds are slow here in Laos and I don't have much time before heading out to dinner, so just a quick note.

I joined the Intrepid tour from Bangkok to Hanoi last Thursday. Eight of us plus the tour leader. We took an overnight train ride to Chiang Mai on Thursday night. My overriding memory of the latter is brutal heat. Thence to the border town of Chiang Khong to a guesthouse overlooking the Mekong.

We crossed into Laos early on Saturday morning and spent two idyllic days travelling down the Mekong, spending the night in Pak Beng. After that, three nights in Luang Prabang, a world heritage site (and not less importantly, the first decent cup of coffee since I left the UK).

We have just arrived in Vang Vieng and tomorrow evening we head to Vientiane.

Laos is magical.

PS this crashed instantly, so I am uploading it on 22 March, the day after writing. Now off to Vientiane.