The sign behind the drivers head, said the bus was strictly licensed to seat 24 passengers. No one seeemd concerned that there were 36 passengers, and a ton of luggage on the roof. The bus groaned on and in no time we were hurling down windy roads with sick bags being flung out the window every few kilometers. After 6 hours we finally landed in Huay Xai, a big town on the border between Laos, Myamar & Thailand. We stayed at Daauw Homestay, which is a women's shelter that provides a safe centre for women to stay when left widowed or exciled from their families for various reasons. The place was full of babies, and women of all ages were staying there with their children or partners in some cases to learn skills to be able to survive independently.

There was an option of taking a bus, however the route between the mountainous regions of Huay Xai and Luang Prabang are notoriously steep and winding, the relatively short distance on the map is actually a vomit inducing 18 hour trip. We opted for a smooth and relaxing ride along the legendary Mekong river on the slow boat.

The first day was a peaceful journey, winding along the river with Laos to the left of us and Thailand to our right. However it was horrific to see how dirty the river was, rubbish gathered along bushes and plastic bottles often floated passed us. We stopped at the little town of Pak Beng overnight, where we watched the World Cup Final. The second day although it lashed rain for the first few hours, once the rain subsided it was the most scenic of the entire journey where the Mekong is encircled by an every changing mountainous landscape, tiny villages and lush jungle surroundings. We landed in Luang Prabang and joined Megan and Ian (who had opted for the bus) for a delicous meal at Tamarind Restaurant. The next morning it was time to say goodbye, as mum & Siobhán headed for Vietnam and I set off en route to Malaysia to meet Hugo.