twentythird...laos.......[1500]

2.12.07.
9.15AM...HAD A LATE NIGHT WATCHING FOOTIE...SO A LATE START TODAY.
10.45AM...BREAKFAST...BANANA PANCAKE...3 CUPS OF TEA.
12.10PM...WENT TO SEE A MINATURE ANGHOR WAT...SOME CHAP BUILT IT IN HIS BACK GARDEN.
12.40PM...BUTTERFLY GARDENS...APPARENTLY THERE ARE OVER 1500 DIFFERENT SPECIES HERE...PINEAPPLE...COCONUT ICECREAM...DELICIOUS...ALSO HAD MIXED FRIUT SHAKE.
2.50PM...WALKED BACK VIA THE MARKET.
5.00PM...FEELING PECKISH.
5.50PM...BACK AT OUR FAVOURITE RESTAURANT...PACKED OUT...WHEN I BECOME FOND OF SOMETHING...EVERYBODY SEEMS TO FOLLOW!
6.30PM...PORK...CHIPS...SALAD...MY FAVOURITE.
8.00PM...BACK AT GUESTHOUSE...BOOKED TAXI FOR AIRPORT FOR 10AM TOMORROW...FLY AT 12.55PM.
8.30PM...PACKING...TRYING TO RELAX...FIND IT HARD WHEN WE ARE ABOUT TO MOVE ON.


OVERALL VIEW.
I don't think the cambodians are as friendly as the viets.[Do i have a right to compare?]It costs more even though it's a poorer country.We were in Phnom Penh for only 2 days,it was packed because the water festival was on.So maybe it was the wrong time to go.Although the water festival was worthwhile seeing!To me the place was very dirty.Siem Reap,a small town,quite westernised,a little bit Greecified.Anghor Wat is well worth a visit if you like stones,boulders.But if you are not good on your feet,quite frustrating.Could do with tarmacing and a few stannah stairslifts!But its ancient,its historic.Its a place you have to see,just to say you've been!


3.12.09.
8.00AM...HERE WE GO AGAIN...SHOWER.
9.00AM...BREAKFAST...BREAD AND JAM...2 CUPS OF TEA.
10.10AM...TAXI TO AIRPORT...6 DOLLARS.
10.40AM...AIRPORT.
11.00AM...CHECK IN...BYE BYE BAGS...SEE YOU IN ABOUT FOUR HOURS.
11.30AM...PASSPORT CONTROL...HAVE TO PAY 25 DOLLARS EACH TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY...I TOLD HER THAT I HOPE IT GOES TO THE POOR CHILDREN...SHE LAUGHED...I SAID IT WASN'T FUNNY...ALSO I HADN'T FILLED IN MY DEPARTURE SLIP...SO I WAS SHOOED TO THE REAR OF THE QUEUE!
11.45AM...SORTED...NEED A COFFEE.
12.20PM...WAITING TO BOARD.
12.55PM...ON RUNWAY...THE PLANE THAT IS...NOT ME!
1.25PM...SALAMI COB...GLASS OF WATER...READING.
2.35PM...TOUCH DOWN.
2.50PM...MORE FORMS TO FILL!
3.05PM...STANDING IN QUEUE.
3.20PM...WE DON'T HAVE ANY PASSPORT PHOTO'S TO GIVE THEM FOR OUR VISA APPLICATIONS...SO WE HAVE TO PAY A DOLLAR EACH...PLUS 36 DOLLARS EACH FOR THE VISA!
3.40PM...TWO DUTCH GUYS ASK IF THEY CAN BORROW SOME MONEY[42 DOLLARS]...THEY'LL RETURN IT WHEN THEY GET TO A BANK IN TOWN...OK!
4.00PM...WE SHARE A TAXI TO THE TOWN CENTRE.
4.20PM...MONEY RETURNED.
4.40PM...FOUND A GUESTHOUSE...2 POUND A NIGHT...IT'LL DO.
5.30PM...DUTCH CHAPS AND US HEAD FOR THE NEAREST BAR...RESTAURANT.
7.35PM...LAOS CURRY...OK...BIT BLAND.
9.30PM...HAD ENOUGH BEER[5]...BELLY CONTENT...11 DOLLARS THE LOT!...FOR BOTH.
10.00PM...ENJOYABLE EVENING...GOOD NIGHT.


4.12.07.
8.00AM...GOSH ITS NOISY...NOT HAPPY.
9.00AM...SHOWER COLD...NOT HAPPY.
9.35AM... NU AGREES...WE ARE ON THE MOVE AGAIN.
10.30AM...BOOKED INTO ANOTHER GUESTHOUSE...7 POUND A NIGHT...ONLY THE BEST FOR NU!
11.40AM...BREAKIE TIME...SAUSAGE...BACON...EGG...HAM...BAGUETTE...CUPPA TEA...LEMON MILKSHAKE...BIT BITTER.
12.55PM...WALKING MAIN STREET...WE NOTICE THERES A TOUR TO GO AND SEE THE WATERFALLS ...GOES AT 1.30PM TODAY...4 DOLLARS.
1.05PM...BOOKED...ON WAY BACK TO GUESTHOUSE...NU WANTS TO CHANGE INTO SWIMMING COSTUME.
1.30PM...WAITING ON STEPS OF GUESTHOUSE FOR PICKUP.
1.55PM...GETTING WORRIED...DID WE GIVE THE RIGHT NAME OF THE GUESTHOUSE?
2.00PM...MINIBUS TURNS UP...OFF WE GO...NOT HAPPY...MOB PHONE GOT NO SIGNAL!
2.45PM...PLEASANT ENOUGH JOURNEY THRU THE VILLIAGES...ONE THING WAS A DISAPPOINTMENT...HAD TO PAY ANOTHER 2 DOLLARS TO ACTUALLY GO IN TO SEE THE WATERFALLS...BUT THERES A PLUS...THERES BEARS TO SEE AS WELL...NU HAPPY.
3.10PM...WATERFALLS...WELL I SUPPOSE THEY HAVE SOMETHING...MAINLY WATER...NU HAD A SWIM...NU HAPPY...THE BEARS OOZED LAZINESS...NOT DOING A LOT.
4.15PM...BEER.
4.40PM...BACK IN MINIBUS.
5.20PM...BACK AT GUESTHOUSE...GONE CHILLY...NEED MY JEANS...BEEN IN SHORTS FOR THE LAST 2 MONTHS...IT FEELS STRANGE TO HAVE MY LEGS COVERED.
6.40PM...RESTAURANT...NAMED THE BAKERY...TREATING MYSELF...STEAK...CHIPS...SALAD...SEVEN UP!
7.05PM...LOOKS GOOD?...TASTES OK...7 CHIPS...SALAD CAKED IN MAYO...OH WELL.
7.40PM...ORDERED A BOTTLE OF RED...SLICE OF APPLE BREAD CAKE.
8.00PM...I ORDERED LINDEMANS 2001...NOT 2006...NU SAYS I'M A MOANING MINI...APPLE CAKE A BIT DRY!
8.25PM...BILL CAME...FAIR ENOUGH...I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THERE CURRENCY...SO I GAVE THEM 30 DOLLARS...THE WAITER CAME BACK WANTING MORE...HE CAN'T ADD UP!
8.50PM...HE'S BACK WITH CALCULATOR.
8.55PM...SORTED...EVEN GOT SOME CHANGE...HE LOOKS A BIT LOST!
9.20PM...FINISHED WINE...ON OUR WAY.


CHILLED.

BYE FOR NOWZ.