OCTOBER 2010. Our friends, Gill and Dave had spent time in Laos and after looking at their photos, we decided to book our flight to Bangkok. We then went to Chaing Khong where we crossed the mighty Mekong to Huay Xai in Laos. We took the boat down the Mekong to Luang Prabang (a lovely town). Our travels by bus took us to Phonsavan (Plain of Jars and mine clearance work), Vang Vieng (caves and canoeing), Ban Na Hin (river trip through mountain) Paske, 4000 islands (Don Khon and Don Det with Mekong rapids) and finally over night train from Urbon (Thailand) to Bangkok. We enjoyed our back packing around Laos. It’s a country where not so many British people go, friendly and beautiful. A flight direct to Luang Prabang from Bangkok probably would have been better.