Thursday day three of our travels, day two of our time in Laos and another earlyish start. We were off to Vang Vieng or Wang Wieng as the locals pronounce it. Our first port of call was the Nam Ngum Dam, a hydro electric scheme that provides most of the electricity for Laos. Not only that but 70/80% of it's electricity is exported to Thailand and provides about a quarter of Laos' foreign exchange earnings. It was quite a long trip there, so Cy broke the ice to amuse us and our Thai fellow travellers with some of his stories.

We arrived at the dam about ten thirty. After stretching our legs and taking pictures, eating ice cream stuff like that, we climbed aboard the coach. We were to undertake a short journey to the south east, on a twisting circuitous road over the hills. Our destination was the Nam Ngeum jetty where our next form of transport awaited us. At first we climbed up through the forest seeing nothing but trees. Eventually those sitting on the left side could see fantastic views of the lake as we descended and eventually alighted at the Nam Nguem jetty.

We were off on a boat ride around the very large lake that is Nam Ngum. Our trip however would take about an hour and include lunch. Maybe now is the time to mention that we were now part of a group that included Thai people. As passengers on the coach from Mukdahan we had joined together at Nong Khai. Most of them spoke some English so when they needed to, they could communicate. Cy acted as the lynchpin, telling his stories in Thai and English. We could tell when he spoke first in Thai by the sound of the laughter, if the story was risque or not.

The boat headed off in an easterly direction and as we motored across the lake we ate lunch. We headed towards and beyond some island's until we reached what appeared to be a concrete viewing platform. Unfortunately the construction was flawed and the structure had subsided. Bill Watch being ex RCT, was a little perplexed as to the ex Sapper's concensus that a Jim Curtis touch was needed to rectify the platform's situation. Now for those of you who do not know, Jim was a B1 Combat Engineer and a dab hand with explosives.

Now we had a two hour plus journey to the Vasana Hotel in Vang Vieng. it was a circuitous route around a big mountain, so about forty clicks were added to the journey. We arrived around four o'clock so the driver made good time. The front of the hotel was quite ordinary and smallish, it disguised something pretty spectacular however. As we walked through the Foyer, which occupied the central ground floor from front to back, a Colonial style balcony revealed a magnificent panorama. I've purposely made it the rollover image for effect.

The light was fading as we parked up and alighted to walk to the pool. Most of our Thai friend's after a little hesitation, took the plunge by jumping from the lower branch of the tree and the pictures of their exploits are in the slideshow. Then, to show the action man that was a young Harry Murray, is alive and kicking, up he climbed to the lower branch of the tree. I expected him to do as the others had done, which was to jump feet first but no, it was like he was back on the diving board at Gillman barracks with a head first dive. Our Thai friends were in awe at what they'd just seen, indeed so was I.