Fusionoize Update!!

Hi guys,

JW here giving an update on the trip so far. Today is Day 7 and we are in Luang Nam Tha town, Laos which is approx. 10km from the border (Boten) with China which we left on Day 6.

Day 1: Singapore-Hanoi-Lao Cai
By the time we arrived, it was already 2200 and we could only purchase the 3rd class seats on the train to Lao Cai. In short, we didn't sleep well or eat well through the whole night......
*apparently no-smoking signs are meant for display purposes only, people DO smoke in enclosed train cabins!

Day 2: Lao Cai-Hekou-Yuanyang
Finally, stepping into China was a breeze as we spoke a common tongue and the people were very friendly. Except for the part where everyone spits and the horror stories about the Chinese public toilets are 100% true, with a few details that we can add onto.

Day 3:Yuanyang
Day 4: Yuanyang-Jianshui-Jinghong
Day 5: Jinghong
China was pretty much the same; big cities, spitting people, smokers everywhere, spicy and salty food but we survived it. We have travelled at least 1000km so far through China getting from one place to another in Yunan Province, China. Yuanyang was the coldest place we visited (8 deg C at night) but the worst is behind us. I just worry how to adjust to Laos given how relatively comfortable our travel in Yunan has been so far.

Day 6: Jinghong-Boten-Luang Nam Tha
Laos was a totally different experience, given that we don't know howto speak Lao in the first place. The prices of food have gone up (1 meal = approx. 3-4USD) but other than that the weather is less cold and the hotels have HBO, Star Movies and so on so we should be just fine! Apparently due to the economic crisis, there are lesser Whites around in town now which is the same for China tourism as well.

In closure, the six of us are generally fine with no illnessesor injury thus far and we are on track for the itinerary, just that we changed some destinations. Our money will definitely last us the whole trip and we have access to computers from this part onwards of the journey.

PS: To the person who thinks I should be dead by now, sorry to disappoint you! Lol do take care of my stuff I passed to you though, I need it till April!