Vientiane

In an effort to reduce travel time and maximise the days we have left, we booked a flight from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. Easily the shortest flight of my life, a mere 35 minutes but it saved us at least a full day of bus travel.

We arrived late afternoon and found out there was to be a New Year party in the main square in town. It was absolutely packed, with live music and Beer Lao flowing freely (and cheaply). Almost all Lao people mixed with the odd bemused tourist (including us). After the New Year countdown, a live DJ took the stage and hit us with a bunch of SE Asian chart hits - and multiple playings of Gangham Style. Is there a song in the history of the world more ubiquitous than this song? A brilliant night, getting seriously drunk and dancing with the locals, can't beat it.

The next day we were suffering pretty badly, but luckily Vientiane (the capital of Laos) is an easily walkable city with a flavour of France complete with large boulevards and an Arc de Triomphe style memorial, mixed in with Buddhist temples. Being the dry season, we were also able to wander down to the shores of the Mekong and take in the sun. The Thai border was just a stones throw away.

And as the ultimate hangover cure - 10 pin bowling! It felt like walking into a building circa 1975 in a proper old school bowling alley. Fi kicked my ass I confess.

Then a stroll in the night market, picking up various amazing food from the stalls and washing down with more Beer Lao. Amazing what you can do with a killer hangover when the incentive is there!