SAM NEUA (28-9/01/09)

A VIP coach If you look closely, you will be able to see a regular feature of these bus trips, someone being ill!

Typical countryside scene, extra fast shutter speed as we were going at least 15mph

9 Hours from Phonsavan (170kms) is Sam Neua and we really are getting away from the crowds here. Our trip here has been slightly tainted by theft from our room of same cash (equivalent to 20 quid). We called in a translator from the tourist office to explain to the manager what had happened, but ultimately the 2 cleaners who took the money would not own up to it despite Poirot-esque questioning from Western and Kiss. I had to be forcibly restrained from bringing out the thumb screws. To add insult to injury we saw the aforementioned tea-leaves spending or hard-earned cash at the market. And what a market it was – oranges, apples, lemongrass, dill, rats, catfish, insects, guinea pigs, doughnuts, coriander, perch, all up for grabs. Some creatures were completely unrecognisable, some were worryingly familiar! People were quite sensitive to photography, so you’ll just have to imagine.....But suffice to say it more resembled a pet shop than a food market. The weather here at 1200m was cold at night and early morning then very misty during the day which caught us out slightly but we do have enough clothes, just! John and Erin from New Zealand were excellent company – “hello” if you are reading this.