Here are some pictures of the bus we took from Pakse to Vientiane.

It's a sleeping bus and we had beds :)

So comfy...

In Pakse (Laos), we stayed at a guesthouse owned by Bor and her mama.

They were super nice and welcoming, offering us a snack and a meal right before we left for Vientiane. I really enjoyed talking to them and can't wait to visit their home country: Thailand.

Khawp Jai for everything!!!

What I hate most in Internet cafes are people skyping in French French, Canadian French and American English. Why are their conversations so annoying?

Yummy street food :)

in Luang Prabang (Laos)

In Luang Prabang (Laos), Annis got the longest and best head massage + shampoo ever.

It nearly took 15 minutes to wash her hair.

Her haircut is now quite nice :) 

How much did her sweet treat cost?

3$

We love Laos.

Back in Vientiane. 

I really don't like this city, but it seems that no matter where you go in Laos, you will sooner or later be back in Vientiane.

Annis and I went to Luang Prabang from Vang Vieng while Math headed to a cobra village in Thailand.

Not too sure when and where we'll meet up again.

Hopefully before my birthday!

Annis, Math and I are still in Laos. More specifically in Vang Vieng, a place famous for tubbing and all sorts of outdoor activities (trekking, caving, hiking, swimming, kayaking, rafting, rock climbing). It's really popular with young people who like to party. However, there isn't much cultural stuff to do and Laotian food is almost non-existant. The menus are filled with Western food and all the seasons of Friends play on loop in the restaurants. It was quite relaxing and fun these past 6 days. And our hotel named Le Jardin Organique is simply gorgeous with a nice view of the limestone mountains.

Another video from our trek in Cambodia. 

During our trek (2 days/1 night) in Virachey National Park, we camped next to a stream/lake where we could swing into the water. So much fun!!!

Cooking in the jungle!

This was during our trek (2 nights/1 night) in Virachey National Park (Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia)

Bamboo Bridge in Kampong Cham (Cambodia)

We have seen people walking on this bridge as well as cars/scooters/motorbikes/bikes passing on it.

On a bamboo train in Battambang.

Quite a funny experience.

This is for my mommy who loves monkeys.

They are everywhere in the temples, feeding themselves with the offerings people bring to the gods

We arrived in Lao last night and found a very nice homestay/guesthouse owned by a Thai family. Can't wait to explore this new country (even if it seems more expensive than Cambodia...)

We are still in Cambodia (Ratanakiri Province, Ban Lung City) and are about to enter Laos tomorrow.

Yes, there was an earthquake in Japan and a tsunami in the Pacific Ocean, but we are not affected at all. (Actually, we just came out of the jungle after 2 days/1 night trekking.)

How about you Nis?

Night Markets: Yes, We Love Them!

1) They are at night time when the temperature is perfect.

2) You can get cheap stuff if you bargain.

3) A lot of artsy/unique/one-of-a-kind stuff, designed/signature articles

4) Always joyful, busy and crowded

5) It's a way to interact with locals. They will tell you the story behind each product and try to persuade you to buy it.

6) I like shopping.

A local delicacy: baby duck egg

It's literally a small baby duck, not yet mature, still in its shell.

I'm slightly disgusted, couldn't enjoy it, but respect people who do.

(I tried the yolk but left the chick for Math)

This special snack is called Balut.

Available in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and China. (source: Wikipedia)

"Feed the fish with your dead skin"

The ad was slightly scary but I have always wanted to try so why not?

3 USD/2ppl/20 min

At first, I was reluctant to put my feet in the pool because the fish were going crazy. (hungry???) But it was simply really tickling for the first minute and then you become used to it. I can't say it's really effective since my feet are still harsh (not like baby soft feet). But I guess if I had stayed longer in the pool...

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

I seriously haven't read such a difficult book since a while.

It takes a lot of concentration and patience to get through it. (and enjoy it)

Definitely not a summer/vacation book. 

Maybe it would be easier in Spanish (si je pouvais lire en espagnol)

For those who don't know yet, I have bought a new camera, Canon Powershot G12.

Yes mommy and daddy, I did!

Here is the last picture of Math and I in our apartment in Hong Kong, right after the purchase, using some kind of blurry function.

Loves it!!! (my camera, and the fact that I can FINALLY upload some pics)

Every bus ride so far in Cambodia has been eventful.

The first one from the Mekong Delta to Phnom Penh was quite short, only an hour. But since all of us 16 travellers have spent 10 hours in a boat together, there was a lot of chitchatting going on.

The second ride was from Phnom Penh to Battambang, about 5.5 hours. WITHOUT A/C because it broke down. Of course, no refund or compensation whatsoever. And we only figured it out because an American couple who are originally from Cambodia told us so. And oh, because we were sweating like pigs.

The third ride from Battambang to Siem Reap happened to be overbooked. Not that it's my problem (since we had reserved seats) but they brought some plastic chairs and put them in the middle of the aisle for the folks without seats.

In Southeast Asia, children under the age of 8 years old usually don't need to pay any fare. 

But they also happen to not have any assigned seats. 

Hence, they can have the free seats left, but need to sit on their mama or papa's lap when the bus is full.

So there's this big (fat) white man sitting right next to a mama with 2 kids.

After 10 min, she couldn't take it anymore and asked to switch place with someone since the white guy was taking too much space. (plus, she needed some room for her kids)

Obviously, he was pissed off and made sure we all knew about it.

Slightly hilarious.

We rented bikes this morning and rode 12 km to Phnom Sampeau, a complex of temples. The ride was awesome since we got to see the countryside. Every child we encountered was waving and practicing their "hello!". We also stopped at some lady's stall to enjoy coconuts. She was absolutely delightful and was laughing all the time since we couldn't communicate together verbally. People seem to take life easy and not fret for small matters.

Ahh and one more thing, while we were trekking to the top of the mountain to visit the highest temple, we realized how in bad shape we are ;)

There are huge parks in Cambodia. During daytime, they are completely empty apart from a couple of monuments and statues. But when night falls, that's when people get out and gather in the parks to sing, dance and play. Loves it!

We left Phnom Penh this morning for Battambang. The a/c on the bus broke down right from the start so we sweat like hell during the entire ride which was 5 hours. I guess I should consider it like free sauna.

However, Battambang is quite charming with its French architecture but with an Asian twist. We went for the bamboo train which is basically a bamboo panel on top of 2 sets of wheels + a motor. We rode 7 km to a small village and then 7 km to come back. The most funny aspect is that there's only 1 rail. Hence, when we encountered another ride which was heading in our way, either one of us had to dismount his ride, get off the tracks, let the other ride pass and then get back on the tracks.

We're in Phnom Penh (Cambodia) since 2 days and we love it :)

The 10 hours boat ride + 1 hour bus ride from Chau Doc (Vietnam) was not easy but we made it (and accountered many many nice fellow travellers).

In the capital, the food is great! I would even say it's better than in Vietnam.

We've been to the Tuol Sleng Museum (a high school which Pol Pot converted into a Khmer Rouge prison which after the war, the authorities converted into a museum/memorial), to many markets and to the busy area near the riverside.

People are always smiling even when we are bargaining XD

ps. (Great to hear you travelled with Benoit! Will we see him again in Laos?)