Cheaper than Chips

We've spent the last couple of weeks in Asia, venturing through Thailand and Laos before coming to Hanoi this evening. The excitement has been non-stop, and with both of us several genuine watches richer, we're able to act like kings.. kind of.

Childish kings

We flew into Bangkok with slight trepidation, as so many people we'd spoken to who'd been, had said it was crap. Turns out that's a load of nonsense. Bangkok is amazing - you just have to accept it for what it is - a weird, over-populated, over-touristed, utterly bizarre at times place - but a fun one all the same. Also it has a funny smell when you get there, but you get used to it.

And it can get a bit wet.

Highlights of Bangkok included Thai boxing training, going to a 'table tennis club' (where Dave was lucky enough to play against one of the staff members) and Myles being propositioned by a lady of the night around 3am. After declining, jokingly saying he didn't know if the prostitute was male or female, she duly whipped her dress above her head, and pulled her underwear down (in the middle of a pretty public street) for the answer. Female in case you wanted to know.

Competition winner!

Also we bought heaps and heaps of 'goods' from the markets. We're unsure if this is a highlight or not.

Due to the horrific floods bombing through Thailand, we had to fly to the North of the country where we spent several days in Chiang Mai. It was far, far more serene than Bangkok, despite still being the second biggest city in the country. The local night market kept us entertained in evenings (when we weren't off watching a (free) ladyboy cabaret show - surprisingly good), as well as going to a Muay Thai fight night (a three-way blindfold match being the highlight); while days could be spent just walking around the town.

Great stuff

One day was put aside for elephant trekking. Seeing the elephants in their natural homes in Africa had been amazing, but riding them was on another level. Under the direction of our utterly hilarious/amazing/mushroomed-up guide Song, we rode through the jungle (dressed like hippies of course for some reason) on the back of these huge creatures to a waterfall - except when Dave's elephant decided she'd had enough and wanted to wander off in the wrong direction.

Cleaning the ride home

Following Thailand (though we'll be returning), our next destination was Luang Prabang in Laos, and instead of the horrifically sounding 30+ hour bus, we plumped for a two-day slow boat along the Mekong River. Unfortunately, you had to get a six hour minivan before you got on the boat, and we chanced upon a driver who looked like he fancied a nap in between the bits where he was overtaking on hills and blind corners. Luckily, the passenger seat was taken by soon-to-be best buddy Tracy, who decided to wake him up by having a chat with him; "DO YOU KNOW WAYNE ROONEY?" "WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE CURRY?" "HAVE YOU GOT A WIFE?" and so forth...

We have no idea who this is

Incredibly it did the trick, and we arrived at our place for the night safe and sound. In the morning we'd meet a load (again, soon-to-be mates) who did the same journey as us,  but for some reason did their journey through the night. Personally, we were of the opinion that they'd had the better journey as they wouldn't have been able to see what the driver was doing.

Doing some shots

The two day boat down the Mekong River was an enjoyable enough affair. At one point during the second day - for reasons we aren't sure - we dropped an old man off on a beach, with not a drop of civilisation in sight. We figure he was left there to die because he didn't pay for his ticket.

Bye mate :(

And so we've spent the last several days in Luang Prabang, spending our days at amazing waterfalls, and spending nights at all you can eat food markets (for less than £1) and an awesome bar named Utopia, where we've discovered a burning passion for volleyball. A slightly curious oddity is that bars have to shut down at 11:30pm, so if you want to stay out later you head to the BOWLING ALLEY! Except  when you get there, you discover it's.. just.. a bowling alley...

Waterfall party

We've just been on a short flight over to Hanoi, having a slightly bizarre experience with Lao Airlines - our backpacks got their own seats, the plane started moving the second they closed the door, and the safety presentation lasted (without exaggeration) five seconds.

Awesome breakdancing Lao kids

So Thailand and Laos have been a pretty fantastic few weeks for us. We managed to meet Alan from The Hangover (who hilariously didn't want Dave in the photo due to his hair - Alan was calling him Pepé Le Pew), a girl who claims (and we have our doubts) to have starred in a play about Stockport, and five of the most awesome Lao kids you could ever meet -  Gon, Jon, God, Samsung and Tom Hanks. Fingers crossed we'll survive crossing the streets of Vietnam, and we'll be updating soon..

The Hangover 3