Vientiane

Hi guys
how are you today.
Were back in Vientiane today and it's really hot-over 40 degrees!!!! We had to take a plane ride back to Vientiane from Luang Prabang and it only took 30 min but driving took 9 hours. It's New Year's right now =in the middle of April! and people are throwing buckets of water on everyone in the street! It's the biggest water fight ever. There even people in the back of trucks throwing water! We're always wet but it cools us off! That's all for now!

Bye
Connor

Continuation of April Thirteenth

Hi You Guys

sorry for cutting off so fast at that point. We went to visit elephants as you have probably heard following off on last blog. After riding the elephants down to the Mekong (I got to ride on the head where the. Mahouts usually sit!!!) we had a lovely Laos lunch with all the trappings. which i will show you when I get back. Then we got to learn how to ride on an elephant called Mae Uak (all girl elephants start with Mae I think the boys start with Mon but not sure) when I say ride I mean ride the elephants without the benefit of the Mahout. I Know my spelling is horrible but I don't have much time. The elephants then took us down to the Mekong to give them a bath while giving us a bath at the same time!!! The next day we took a van to the waterfall along the way stopping at villages and markets outside Luangprabang Our guide slash driver then took us to a lovely little restaurant by the waterfall entrance. the people at the entrance wouldn't believe i was twelve and made us pay extra!! The waterfall was gorgeous for swimming in and very cold! You wouldn't think it would be that cold in Laos but in the water it is. Probably because it's so hot outside. Anyway the next day me, mom, and Grandma went to a weaving village and died silk one of the main industries in Laos. We also went weaving and for ali only on a two tredled loom which is way more fun than four. I will bring you back my weaving piece. After that we got a van that took us to the parents of one of Moms Laosian friends and we had dinner there. It was hard because only one of them spoke a little english and he didn't speak it very well. The next day we spent in the markets. To be more specific the New Years market. We only spent the morning there and there were so many people that it was so packed that you could barely breath. The afternoon we spent at the hotel because Conner was feeling sick and our plane for the capitol didn't leave until four. In Laos for those who have been on planes before they close the gate an hour before the plane leaves so that all the luggage can be on the plane before hand. We got there with plenty of time to spare but then Dad found out that he didn't have his passport. We searched through all the luggage and eventually Dad ran back to the hotel and found out that it was with my grandparents. Wow. we were all really worried that Dad wouldn't be able to go with us. We made it on the plane and 35 minutes later we were in the capitol. We got to our motel and crashed. Today we are leaving for Kuala Lumpar in Malaysia for the night and Going on to Jakarta Indonesia for the next part of our trip. I don't know what we are doing there as my Uncle Roy is planning it all and wants it to be a surprise. I shall hope to blog more there as he has internet. Post me on what's happening at home.
Hot in Asia
Sarah

Hello everyone

We are having lots of fun here right now. we are back in Vientiane we flew here yesterday and we are waiting for our plane ride to KL in Malaysia and then to Jakarta so this is our last day in Laos!

The traffic here is really weird. The cross walks here are just a waste of paint! people will not stop for you and if you want you can just cross anywhere in the street where there aren't cars in the way. When your in a car lots of people when they turn go into one lane and then sort of drift all over the road! there are not the same rules to a vehicle as there is in Canada. Most of the people here have a scooter but some have a car. and there are these things called Tuk Tuks that are like mini taxi except they are way cheaper. Some people even ride scooters on the sidewalks.

Its new years here and there is lots of people on the side walks throwing water and flower at you (part of the new year) and today everyone is having parties on the sidewalks and washing the Buddha statues. yesterday there was a huge market and i got some stuff. Starting yesterday normally everyone gets three days off from work and go have fun in LAOS!!!!!

Since Laos is poor i thought these prices where a bit expensive
see if you can figure out the money!!

16 000 K hint: 5x4-8+18-20+1-6+3=
59 000 K
172 000 K
40 000 K
tell me the answer when i get home

Mt. Phougie

Hi from Luang prabang!
How are you today. Today we climbed Mt. Phougie.It was 348 steps to the top




From:Connor

all about Laos

Hello everyone! How cold is it there? Its like plus 45 here and there is lots of pollution. If you walk out of your house there is a pile of garbage in the middle of the road! And you would be suprised how many people own a skooter or a motorbike because Laos is one of the poorest countrys in the world. you see some peoples houses and there little straw houses! Even though a few people are rich and way more poor, everyone is very nice. Everyone works here. 10 and up your out in the feilds working. I watched a show at Cope (A place where people who have lost legs or arms from bombs that the U.S.A left behind when they bombed here can get help) and little kids would go out in the jungle where they knew if they stepped on a bomb they would all get killed and went to find bombs for there casings and sell them to the illigle bomb collecters for money!! thats how poor they are that children would risk there lives to help here family!!

At the caves we went to (all temples) we looked at all the statues of Buddah and learned some things about the religion. And at the waterfall we went swimming and i got to jump of a tree into the water. Then today we went and climed mount fugie and there were 328 steps.

Well thats all for now
Matthew

Hello from Laung Prabang

Hi You coldies
It is a sweltering 30 degrees here in Lauang Prabang
The rest of the trip in the capitol was uneventful
Here however things are so much fun
We are in the North of Laos and it is a little cooler
Lots of mountains and the air is a little bit cleaner.
I hope you are all well there
Yesterday we went elephant riding
yes on elephants
It was so much fun
my elephant was named Mae san and her mahoot or trainer named mr Lan
First we went on an hour ride down the trail to the mekong river
Sorry gotta go
will tell more later
Sarah

hi