time for the Laos goodness...

Hello again! So the saga continues but it's much more enjoyable I promise! Here's a map so y'all can situate yourselves...

OK so the next morning we were determined to charter us a boat to make the second leg of the journey more condusive to relaxation. It didn't work cuz the crazy boat lady kept sticking her nose into our bargaining business saying that she makes this much money and that he could also make that much money. We weren't trying to rip him off, offering him a very decent price for the 15 or so people we would have to pitch in... she was basing her amount on the 100 or so people on her boat. But, the dude didn't budge from 10,000 baht (a ridiculous price, 40 baht = 1 USD) and so we were forced to take the terrible slow boat to hell again... or so we thought. Abbey came down to the port and said she was talking to an american family of 4 who had a whole long boat to themselves and that they were willing to bring 5 or 6 of us on with them. So, after she got on the crazy boat, she came righty back off and declared she was taking the family up on their deal. Abbey, Perdy, Jetta, Neils, Elkin, Carly & I all got the wonderfully relaxing journey down the Mekong river we were hoping for! It was awesome! The family was so gracious and nice... We saw working elephants on the way down, gorgeous jungle scenary, stopped in on a village and played hacky sack with the children, I rocked out on the ledge of the boat to some groovin Ani tunes, it was hot and just so nice...

We arrived at Luang Prhabang at around 4pm or so, 10mins before the boatload of people, so we mad dashed it to find a hostel, the Phousie Guesthouse. Carly and I went for some tasty indian food (VERY spicy) then to straight to bed cuz I literally could not move after that meal. haha And so cheap in Laos!! It's great! Yesturday we met up with our boat crew for some delicious omlettes and to say our good-byes to Jetta, Neils, and little Elkin... so sad, always, to say good-bye to great people I meet along the way. I almost cried. :-( Last night we drank a beer, walked around the main hustle and bustle streets of the night market, past some way-too-busy bars and passed out around 12:30 or so. Made it to midnight, dudes! Yes indeedy!

But TODAY was probably the best day of my life for sure... what a way to bring in the new year! We hired a taxi (an old truck with a couple covered benches in the box) for 15USD for the day and he took us to the Kuang Si waterfalls. The amount of money this dude made today is like 5 really nice dinners back home when you convert that into Kip and what 150,000 Kip will get you here is quite a lot. It was early morning on New Year's Day and so not busy at all. They are amazing, by the way! I'll include a picture here when we get them uploaded, but picture: sky blue waters cascading down a jungle mountain and you might get an idea of what it was actually like... Awesome. We went for a swim in one of the pools and it felt like I had been reborn or something cuz I was just so invigurated and rejuvinated... FULL ON!

Something I NEVER thought I'd experience:

I saw a SIBERIAN TIGER today. Her name is Phet and she was rescued from poachers 5 years ago along with 2 brothers who didn't make it. She is the most beautiful creature, ferociously adorable. We were there for her feeding, saw her prowl up to the hording where she was fed buffalo bones. Can you believe it?? I even got to touch her! Her coat is like velvit... Wow. What an experience.

All in all, Laos is great and today was the most unique New Years I've ever had, let alone the most unique DAY period! Hope your's was full of awesomeness as well.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!