There's nothing some aloo gobi and a garlic naan can't fix

Sabaidee from Laos. Yup, we've made it. Since my last blog entry we've endured more bus journeys, stayed in some tiny backwater Chinese cities and have enjoyed a mad border crossing between China and Laos. Until yesterday we were still travelling with our chums Emilio (Argentinian) and Nathalie (his French wife) and have been getting in lots of Spanish, drinking and laughing practice. We were sad to say goodbye to them in Jinghong but they had a date with a slow boat to Thailand and we needed to catch a bus to Laos, so we agreed to meet up somewhere, someday. That somewhere, someday just happened to be Mengla the next day - the last stop in China before the Laos border where we had the pleasant surprise of opening our hotel door to Emilio's smiling face - the river was too low for their slow-boat so Thailand via a roadtrip in Laos was the substitute. As well as our Spanish-speaking chums we've also had the pleasure of the company of the Dutch friends we made in Kunming (plus some other nice Dutchies who sold us yet more anti-malarials which will allow us to do some justice to a trip in malaria-ridden Laos).
Now we're back on our own again. After arriving in Laos with pretty much only enough money for a bed for the night, some basic food and the bus tickets to the next ATM we endured a dusty, 9 hour journey from Luang Nam Tha (the first town after the border) to Luang Prabang (the second biggest "city" in Laos). I was doing my best to be zen whilst sitting on a bus seat that seemed to be made of just nails but after 3 days of bus rides my tether was long gone by the time we arrived here last night. But then we found a lovely hostel (1.75 each, no expense spared), had a shower to wash the dust off and then went for a curry in the indian restaurant next to the hostel (which I saw as a sign that we HAD to stay in that hostel as it was meant for me), a curry which I can honestly say was one of my favourite meals of all time I enjoyed it so much. Before it I was feeling very low. Then the lovely lady served me aloo gobi, dhal and a garlic naan and my faith in humanity was restored. We have agreed that we will be going back there at least once in our stay here - maybe even every night!

Mmmm, thought for the day: aren't I lucky to have the luxury to choose the food I love, rather than just have enough to survive? I obsess so much, but some people don't have that chance.

Anyway, less of such seriousness. Laos is a real change from China (which is why we're here - we're loving our China trip but it is very tiring sometimes. Laos is a real contrast, just the difference in the number of people is amazing. It is soooooooo quiet here). Another big difference is the number of westerners, which we're not really loving. When there's fewer of you you get more a flavour of the place - in one town in the last couple of weeks we were the only westerners. So to me this place is feeling a little bit (but not quite) like Oz and NZ. Very touristy. But hey, I'm on holiday. That's the point! It's also nowhere near as cheap as we thought it was. In fact it's more expensive than China in some ways (as we've been in the dirt-cheap south-west).

But, it has baguettes (merci aux Français). It has fresh milk for our tea (ooooooh yes, may go get another one now). It is warm. And it has curry. A curry that makes everything alright in my world. Hmmmm, anyone fancy a trip to India? Pete? You up for it? Pack up your immodium and let's go (after we've been round here a bit more).

Bye for now. It's hot here and I need a drink. I think you need to go and pick something up off the photocopier/printer or maybe you have another meeting.

Hehehehehehehehe...