S-T-U-N-N-E-D

This new season of GG is no joke - every episode has me absolutely gripped.

Tears, laughter, gasps - it has it all.

And FINALLY they revealed who GG is!

And I just CAN'T believe it!!! What an absolute stonking BLINDER of an episode! The wedding - wow, that turned out pretty incredibly and no matter how much I wish Chuck and Blair would just be together, it looks like it's heading into a more shocking direction! 

Hungry for more!!!!

What would we do without online TV?!?!

xoxo

Crusty, Crusty, Crusty!

This it totally gonna be one of those you-had-to-have-been-there things, but I'm gonna put it out there anyway!

When we were in Luang Prabang, we went to visit a few waterfalls. At one of them were these adorable (and very happy looking) elephants. I didn't ride one - in fact, I'm kinda against elephant riding ever since I saw them trekking up hills in Thailand. I know they're built for hard work, but I just don't see it as something necessary - just feels kinda cruel, no matter how well they're treated. 

This is one of my favourite pictures from my entire trip. Everytime I see it, it makes me chuckle. 

Squished up elephant!!!

I think it's the way it's all squished up and that tiny little tusk! HAHAHAHAHA! It just reminds me of this crusty old woman that tried to rip me off in the night market and when I wouldn't have any of it and walked off, she was just being all crusty and shouting all this stuff out in Lao. I swear she was about 90! HAHAHAHAHA!

Don't you think it's hilarious? Hmmm...maybe you really did have to be there.....

LOL!

xoxo

Made It!

I actually made it to the gym today!

YAY!

That's twice this week. \(^0^)/

I haven't been to that step class in literally over 6 months. Probably nearer 8. 

Unbelievable!

The instructor squealed 久しぶり　(Long time no see) at me when I walked into the studio. Causing everyone in there to turn around and have a good gawp. LOL! 

I have missed that class so much! It makes me feel angry at my own laziness - it felt great to be back in the studio doing aerobics again and it took all of 5 minutes to get back into it! It's just a shame that I'm heading out next Sunday because I'm worried that the lazy bug might kick back in so when I come back in March, I'll fall into bad habits again. After going back to the class today though, I'm determined not to let that happen.

I got a shock as well when I saw myself in the mirror - all this walking around Tokyo has seriously toned my legs!!! I did a double take when I was looking at the muscle definition of my calves! YAY! Just wish this stupid pot belly would just disappear in the same way. And no - I don't do diets!!!

I planned to go to Tesco just to pick up some meat and yoghurt. LOL - I left with a whopping 6,000yen's worth of food! There was so much discounted stuff - especially the veg - so I picked up a whole load! Looks like I'm gonna be cooking a lot this week - I came home and made a crab and avocado salad, spag bol and then ebi chilli for lunch tomorrow. I have to make sure I use all this stuff up! The meat doesn't matter coz I can just shove it in the freezer, but I always end up wasting so much veg!!  Naturally I picked up some ginger nuts too, but the find of the day was....Tesco's own fruity brown sauce!!!!! I've only ever seen HP in international supermarkets and it's a complete and utter rip off!! But there it was on the shelf - Teco's own and at a reasonable 139 yen!!! GET IN!!

Great day today.

xoxo

A Spot Of Darts

I had so much fun last night playing darts.

I haven't played for absolutely AGES and we discovered a new game called "Survivor" which brought out the competitive edge in every one of us.

I loved it!

Work has been so crazy busy this month, that it was nice to go out, have a few drinks and have so much fun with good people.  =)


It's only a week until I go to Thailand! This time next Sunday, I'll be getting ready to land in Bangkok. It's gonna be another year which absolutely flies by - I can tell already. I'm really looking forward to it though - work is good and if I take a break now, then I know it can stay that way! HAHAHA! I just feel like there are a million things that I should be doing to prepare, but I can't actually think of what they are! =(


Off to the gym! And I'm gonna remember my trainers this time! LOL!


xoxo

DOH!!!

You know - I honestly had good intentions!

I came home, ran around doing my laundry, made dinner, packed a bag and then headed out to the gym.

When I got to the locker room, I was feeling all smug that I'd made it there and was really looking forward to an aerobics class that I haven't been to in at least 6 months.

I got dressed and then at the last minute I realised I'd forgotten my trainers! 

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Yes, of course I could have taken the easy option and rented a pair, but come on now. Putting on a pair of trainers that have had someone else's sweaty feet in them?!

EEEEEUUUUUUUWWWWW!!!!

No thanks!

I was gutted, but in the end I just enjoyed an onsen and sauna. It's always so packed in there on Friday nights so it was nice to be able to relax knowing that a billion other women weren't waiting for my spot. 

Grrrrrr...still annoyed though because I was totally in the mood! But hey, at least I can have an early night now!


xoxo

=)

After my fall last night, I was getting prepared to wake up this morning and find out that I was in too much pain to go to the gym.

LOL - any excuse.

But no, I woke up an hour earlier than my alarm, and even though my hand was (and still is) caning, I decided to get off my lazy arse and go to my aqua class.

When I haven't been for ages, I always realise just how much I miss it! It was pretty hardcore today and even though I've had months off, I was able to keep up with all the other old ladies. LOL - they are amazing!

Definitely going to make it again on Friday. No excuses.

xoxo

Typical!!

When I woke up this morning and saw the ground covered in snow, I knew that I was gonna be on a mission to take care not to slip and fall over.

I was doing so well all day. All day. And then as I was walking home tonight, literally right outside my house, I slipped on a patch of ice and went flying.

Flat on my back.

OUCH!

I whacked the bones between my hands and wrist and they are absolutely caning now! Hope I don't wake up with any mammoth bruises on my back tomorrow.

Stupid winter.

i hate you.

xoxo

Gaaahhh!!!!

OMG it is absolutely ghastly and freezing today!!!! 

>_<

By the time I headed out this morning, the sun had already started doing it's job and melting the snow. But of course, most of it had turned to ice and the pavements were a complete nightmare.

How do you graciously walk over ice in gorgeous leather boots that have absolutely no grip?!

That's right - you don't! Sod trying to look graceful - I was just doing everything in my power to stop myself from slipping over and landing flat on my arse! LOL!

I got back home after my Japanese lesson to be greeted with the most HUMUNGOUS bills I've seen since I've been living in this house (what the hell was my flatmate doing when I was away!?!?!?!!?!?) and the dreaded tax return forms.

Honestly, I am stunned at the size of the electricity and gas bill. I was actually gonna be nice and just split the bills in the middle, despite the fact that I was away for over 2 weeks, but then I saw the size of them and HELL NO!!! There's no way I'm gonna pay for the time I wasn't here!!! I hope she's aware that next month she's gonna be footing the bills herself while I'm away so I hope she's more careful!!!

Really can't be arsed to go into work this evening. I don't wanna go back outside. =(

Think I'll have a nice cup of tea before I head out. A caramel digestive wouldn't go amiss either...who wants to send me some?! >_-

xoxo

Snow, Snow, Snow

It's hardcore snowing outside...and it's settling.

Now there's more than an inch on the ground. You can't deny the beauty of snow - it looks absolutely gorgeous on the trees and rooftops. I love it.....

 ....when I'm looking at it from inside a nice warm house and holding a steaming hot cup of tea!

LOL!

I'm hoping that it eases up and magically disappears by tomorrow so that I don't have to be out in it. Somehow though, I don't think that that's going to happen.

DOH!

Trying to take my mind of the recent bad memories I was having earlier by throwing myself into one of the recommended texts for my course next month. I'm such a geek - it's actually become kind of interesting and I noticed today when I was teaching that I was already demonstrating some of the simple grammar explanations that I have read about.

Tricks of the trade!

Priceless.

xoxo

Uffffff

As much as I've tried, I haven't been able to ignore the fact that we are getting closer and closer to the one year anniversary of the March 11 disaster. 

It's been playing on my mind a lot recently.

How quickly my mood today has changed!

I just saw some footage and the minute I saw those images of the earthquake shaking the buildings in Tokyo and of the tsunami hitting the shore of the north eastern coast, I felt some someone had stabbed me. 

The pain of losing so many people in that disaster is still so, so raw. I didn't realise just how raw until I was visually reminded of the devastation that that tsunami caused.

=(

And now I'm kinda dreading March 11. Because I know that it is gonna be all over the news - you won't be able to switch onto any news site on the TV, online, in the papers without having those images splashed all over the place. It's just another (guilty) reminder of how lucky we all are in Tokyo. I feel guilty for complaining about such trivial things, when people up in the north have got a lot more to complain about....and don't.

I'm not sure how I feel - I'm thinking that I wanna privately mourn and remember my friends in the privacy of my own home rather than forcing myself to work.....I'll see how I feel nearer the time. Although I'm not sure that spending that whole day by myself would be a good idea. I dunno. 

A part of me still can't believe that even happened. The year has gone so fast, yet at the same time it feels like it was such a long time ago. 

There was a little earthquake this evening and it just got me thinking.

xoxo

Power Woman!!!!

It's time.

I'm having one of those enlightening I-am-a fabulous-woman-and-I-can-do-anything-I-want moments!

HAHA!

Absolutely BELTING out the lyrics to Beyonce's "Listen" in my house while tidying up. Surprised the windows are still in tact! :P

You know when you just have a feel good mood thing going on? Music is the best way to express that.

I had a really great day today - OK, well not the work bit, but I headed to my Japanese class and had a seriously good nihongo work out session! =) And now I'm at home chilling, catching up on some studying, cooking a yummy dinner and just enjoying the down time that I have promised myself to have every other day.


Think I'll do my nails next!


xoxo

Round 2!!

I've finally put up the second installment of pictures from my trip to Laos on Facebook.

If you have time, please check out and appreciate the stunning sunsets!!

Special memories with a special friend.

Enjoy!

xoxo

Down Time

What a chilled weekend I'm having.

I decided to stay in both last night and tonight - not only because the weather is too ghastly to go out in, but because I just needed some down time.

I've been on the go since I came back from Laos. It's like I landed, got back home and was straight back into chaos without having the chance to enjoy that moment of tranquility at home before jumping straight back into work.

So I wanted to spend a couple of evenings just mooching about - doing things but NOT doing things, spending the time to cook a decent dinner, kick back and watch TV and have a LONG, scalding hot shower. 

And it feels good. 

Everything's all confirmed now for my course next month. A hectic week, but the course has been paid for, my flight has been booked and paid for, I've got my accommodation sorted and the rent has been paid for. My bank balance is a sorry state, but it's all out the way and I don't have to worry about it anymore. My accommodation? A studio apartment in a complex...with a pool. NICE! Seeing as I'm gonna have to restrain myself on shopping (not sure how that's gonna work out), I decided that if I had to study on the weekend, then I may as well kill 2 birds with one stone and top up my tan as well! And even it out after all the tan lines I got in Laos! Come on  now - I need to relax SOMETIME! HAHA!

Now I have to work out how to pay for the rest of the bills I have here in Tokyo! Such a hassle but it's gotta be done....at some point before I leave,

But in the meantime, I'm just gonna relax and enjoy the rest of the evening lazing around.

Have a good one people!

xoxo

I. HATE. WINTER

NYYAAAAAAAA!!!

I am so not built for this weather!!!!!

I woke up at 5 and was out the door around 6...to be greeted by a whole load of snow and a biting, cold wind.

>_<

I will be soooo smug when I get on that plane to Bangkok is just 2 weeks.

2 WEEKS!!!

Where did all the time go? This is gonna be another year that flies by super fast - I mean, it's already the end of January! I can barely keep up! But on the other hand, I am pretty much on top of all the arrangements for the course - I just need to work out a few more things that end now.

It's gonna be mad. I'll be going from working every day this month, to studying my arse off every day next month and then back working my arse off every day in March! Seriously - I don't think I'm actually gonna be able to relax until May!

I was totally gonna go back to the gym tonight but it's just so damn cold and walking 20 minutes in those snowy showers is less than appealing. Think I'll settle for next Wednesday instead! LOL!

xoxo

OMGGGGGG!!!!

I just absolutely bawled my way through the latest episode of GG.

I try to avoid spoilers so I won't go into too much detail, but I am absolutely stunned at the direction that it's taken. Stunned and GUTTED!!!!!

Watch it already people!!

On a different note, you know I said in my last entry that I really wanted some chocolate? As soon as I published that, the doorbell rang and I got a parcel from my baby girl in Canada!! Chocolate, skittles, toffee, bath salts and some beautiful pictures of her on her wedding day last year.

I miss her so, so much. 

And now I feel sick from scoffing too much almond covered toffee!

HAHA!

xoxo

\(^0^)/

Finished!!!

35 pages of grammar, 50 different (and very long!!!) questions, 5 hours (including loads of messing around online) and I'm done!!

So pleased that I managed to do the whole thing in one sitting - the instructions actually recommend that you don't but never mind! I just wanted to get it out the way so that I won't be rushing to try and do it at the last minute.

YAY!

Really fancy some chocolate now but I can't be arsed to go out and get any! =(

Think I'll treat myself to a bit of online TV now!

(^0^)

xoxo

Cracking On

It feels so good knowing that I have no reason to leave the house today!

After a hearty breakfast, I started on this pre-course task that I told you I had to do for my CELTA. I'm 17 pages in - another 18 to go! It's not actually that different - it's just really dull. But the geek in me is enjoying studying about phonemes! LOL!

They say that the pre-course task is supposed to prepare you for the course. It's not only doing that, but it's making me realise that I can totally do it! I was worried about all this grammar jargon before, but I think once I can get my head around everything, it will be fine.

Wanna try and finish this thing today so I can make a start on all the reading I have to do.

Back to the grind!!

xoxo

Missions

I have so much on today it's not even funny.

First off is my Japanese class, then it's a whole load of errands, then a wax and then work.

Uffffff....

It's doesn't sound that bad when you look at it like that, but it's all those little errands that involve flittering from one place to another doing all those little annoying things. 

I can't wait for tomorrow. My day off. It can't come soon enough!!

Have a good day!

xoxo

Hectic Few Days

Everytime that I think I can finally relax, I find there is something else I need to add to my ever increasing to do list.

*sigh*

And it's frustrating trying to deal with a Thai woman's broken English when trying to confirm my accommodation plans for next month. She asked me to fill in a form - I filled it in last week. To make it easier I sent her the original forwarded mail so that she could see that she's the one who messed up if things take a turn for the worse. I just feel like it's a race against the clock to try and get everything sorted and confirmed in just 2 weeks, while working every day and still trying to study Japanese. It's definitely hard.

But hey, it'll all be worth it in the end.

Positive thinking.

xoxo

Check Them Out!

I have finally sifted through the 500+ photos that I took in Laos and the first bunch are up on Facebook.

Well, the ones taken in Vientiane anyway!

Check them out!

More to come.

xoxo

What A Bitch!!!!

Because I was feeling nice, I decided to help out some people at work and open an extra slot so that I could teach a client's first lesson.

My oh my, that was a mistake!!!

That client was a teacher's nightmare - rude, cocky, demanding, driving, snotty, arrogant....all unjustified of course.

And to top it all off, she had the cheek to tell me that I was a perfect candidate for botox!! She told me that even though I was young (I failed to inform her that I am, in fact, going to be turning 30 next year, hence justifying showing some signs of ageing), I had a whole load of fine lines on my forehead!!!

THE NERVE!!!

Point number one - even women to women don't ever make any comments about the appearance of lines or grey hairs unless the person in question brings it up first. This woman doesn't even know me, yet felt it perfectly acceptable to just go for it!! My point to her? You wouldn't do it in Japanese, so don't do it in English either.

Point number two - there isn't one because point number one is so good!!! HAHA!

What a BIATCH!!

How did I react?

"Well, I can see that you're obviously a fan of botox yourself"

HAHAHAHA! 

And then she admitted that botox was her...hobby! (seriously woman - get a life!!!)

I could have slapped her one.

Bitch,

And this happened all because I was nice enough to open another lesson. If I had finished at the time I was supposed to, I never would have had to endure her plastic face.

Lesson learnt!

xoxo

Grammar, Grammar, Grammar

So before I go to start my CELTA next month, I have to complete a Pre-Course task.

It's all grammar.....and it's 35 PAGES long!!!

(@ @)

I made a start on looking at it tonight and 11 pages in, I've decided to call it a night! All this grammar terminology isn't actually that difficult (yet) but it's so....like...methodical and doesn't exactly make for stimulating reading. Although I have to admit that I've already had a couple of moments that have made me realise how I can teach a regular grammar point more simple in my lessons. 

I had to leg it to the bank in my break today so that I could make my transfer from my Japanese account to my UK account. I managed to make it before 3pm, so I'm hoping that I should be able to make the final payment for the course early next week. Hoping.

But right now, it's time for a hot shower and then bed!

Oyasumi!

xoxo

Next Stop: Bangkok!

Yay!

So I had my interview for the CELTA course....and have been accepted!

\(^0^)/

I was worried about the interview before because they recommended leaving about 50 minutes for it and I only had my 40 minute break time that I was able to do it in. 

But it was so easy and the whole thing was over in like 20 minutes!!

So it looks like I'm off to Bangkok next month!

So ready to get back in the sun - I'm not made for winter.

Now I'm in a mad rush to try and get everything done. Problem number one - because it's less than a month before the start date of the course, I have to make the full payment within 24 hours...which would be fine, but I can't make the payment in Japanese yen!! So now I have to transfer money to the UK and then do an online transfer into the school's UK account. 24 hours? Never going to happen! They've already sent me 2 emails today asking for payment but I didn't get home until late so I've only just seen them! Even though I'm gonna make the transfers tomorrow, it's still gonna take a few days until the payment's finally confirmed - here's hoping that they understand!!

Problem number 2 - I had a quick look at flights to Bangkok for the dates that I'm gonna be there and they cost an absolute fortune!! Way more than a flight back to the UK!! (T T) It's the tail end of peak season but the weather is absolutely perfect in February, so it's still a super popular time to go over there. The crap thing is, there is absolutely nothing I can do about it - I have to pay. I could risk waiting until the last minute to book but then of course, if the flight is full, I'll be screwed. I wanna fly out the day before the course starts so that I'll be able to work right until the last minute, but that also leaves me no room for any flexibility with my flights. So whatever the cost, I'm gonna have to pay.

I am so pumped!! It'll be nice to get out and live in another country for a bit - even if it is only a month. Just need to get this payment sorted, book the flights, and then I'll be able to relax!

xoxo

And The Ball's Rolling!

I'll tell you what - I'm really hoping that this positive attitude I'm carrying around with me lasts.

Nothing lasts forever, but I'm gonna try and hang on to this for as long as possible! I haven't felt this relaxed and carefree in a long time - all the annoying things about Tokyo, about work aren't giving me the frown lines like they used to. Don't get me wrong - things still bother me and people still bother me but I'm not letting them GET to me. Not like I used to anyway.

Laos really worked wonders me - it really has. And another fabulous point is that I'm WAY more tanned than I even realised! When I was in Laos, my friend and I realised that we had managed to "catch the sun", but coming back and looking in the mirror, I've developed a gorgeous healthy glow....and a sunglasses mark!! DOH! I'm having to plaster make up on the lighter patches to try and make it look a LITTLE more even! HAHA! Absolutely loving this colour!!

So I finally submitted my application to do my CELTA. It all feels a little rushed and last minute - especially since if I get accepted, I'll be off again in just a matter of weeks. During my stopover in Bangkok, I was wondering to my friend if I was ready to come back to SE Asia again so soon after being in Laos for 2 weeks. But the fact of the matter is, February is one of the best months to go.

Bangkok is supposedly the hottest city in the world. When I was there a few years back in December, it was a sauna. April is the hottest (and most miserable) month, then it hits the rainy and typhoon season and then before you know it, it's back to Christmas again. February has the best night time temperatures, plus it's brutally cold in Japan so it's a win-win all round for me to go next month.

Plus, I'm wondering if I'll even do it if I don't do it next month, Something always comes up. The thing that's holding me back in money. I'll pretty much have to empty my account to pay the course, the accomoodation and the flight. I haven't even looked into flight prices yet, and even though it's the end of the peak season, I have a feeling that they're still gonna be pretty pricey. But if I get accepted onto the course, I'll have no choice but to pay!

I guess it's only money. The crappy thing is that whatever I earn this month is not only what I'll have to take with me, but it's also what I'm going to have to live on until payday in April. OUCH!!!! It's definitely going to be tight - there's no question about that! Oh well - I know it will be worth it in the end. All it means is that I won't be able to go away in GW. That hurts so much!! (T T)

On a completely different (and probably non interesting note for you guys!!!), I finally got a 2012 diary and calendar!!! I LOVE starting a new diary - putting in all the appointments for the month and stuff. It always starts off so neat - lol! And they always smell really good! (^_^)

Don't laugh - you KNOW I have a thing about stationery and notebooks and stuff. 

xoxo

DO YOU SEE THIS?!

You know before I told you about the amazing sunset that we saw when we were in the Four Thousand Islands?

Look above.

This is it.

Try and tell me that this isn't stunning!!!

Enjoy.

xoxo

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's 2012!!

I hope you all had a fantabulous countdown on NYE!

I got back to Japan a couple of days ago and the freezing cold is just making me wish I was back in Laos.

What a truly, remarkable and very special country.

It has gone straight into my top 3 favourite countries in the world. 

I have never been anywhere so chilled, so relaxed. Vientiane is hands down the sleepiest capital I've ever visited and the country is so docile compared to it's hectic neighbours! Getting back to nature and completely slowing down was tough, I'm not going to lie, but it was so nice to just kick back and cruise along this slow paced life with my friend. I got a lot of thinking time and reflected a lot about the direction that I want to go in this year.


So let me bring you up to speed with the rest of my holiday - if I can even remember! 


NYE was spent visiting the beautiful Kuang-Si falls in Luang Prabang. GORGEOUS, GORGEOUS, GORGEOUS!!! It was both exciting and terrifying scrambling through a bit of jungle all the sake of a beautiful view! I was so ill-equipped for any kind of trekking and ended up kicking off my flip flops to get back down this steep hill. I have no doubt in my mind that if I had tried to keep them on, I would have slipped and broken something! The trip up there was a nightmare - of all the tuk-tuks available, we managed to pick the one that had a billion problems wrong with it and spent the whole journey thinking it was going to break down!

The descent

We went swimming in the falls - the water was icy cold - you know when you kinda can't breathe because it's that cold? That's what it felt like but I got used to it to enjoy a little dip before we got sick of being gawped at by other tourists. I'm not joking though - after that day, my thighs were caning for a good couple of days! A sign of my desperately unfit state and also another mental motivation to get my arse to the gym!

The gorgeous Kuang-si falls

Beautiful colours

  
 NYE turned out to be a right surprise! We went back to chill before hitting up the street celebrations when we followed some people and found the nightlife! The 11.30pm curfew until that time had been a bit of a killer, so it was nice to know that it was extended for the countdown and we would be able to cut loose and get wrecked.


And we certainly did that! After stumbling along the streets of Luang Prabang and being embarrassed caught in a fumble, we finally made it back to the hotel...where everyone was already sleeping!! No sooner had my friend's head hit the pillow, he was up again and with his head down the toilet for a good...I don't even know how long it was because I practically passed out myself!!


The next day was brutal. We had to check out and we couldn't check into the next place until in the afternoon. I didn't feel that bad when I got up, but walking through the streets in the blazing hot sun...man, by the afternoon I was feeling like complete and utter crap! But, the beauty of not having planned anything meant that we could afford to spend a day like that. Plus in the meanwhile, we met a fabulosuly interesting woman in a restaurant who understood my love of Brazil and was really nice to talk to.


The next day we hit up the Tad Sae falls. We were really nervous about the weather because when we woke up, it was horrendously overcast and grey. In the space of a few hours, they all cleared and out came the sun and gorgeous blue skies. It wasn't hot enough to go swimming in that icy water though! In the evening we went out for dinner and drinks and met this great British guy. It's rare to find interesting people to talk to when you travel - every conversation becomes the same, but luckily it wasn't like that with him. It was a shame he wasn't hanging around for longer.

The last day in Luang Prabang was perfect. Lazy and beautiful and chilled and perfect. After a nice healthy breakfast, we set of to find a patch of beach along the river. It could so easily be missed and was so quiet. The problem? It was insanely hot and the river wasn't exactly the kind fo place that you could go swimming in. Very rocky on the bottom and with strong currents, we could only paddle, bringing temporary relief from the blazing hot sun.


After a lazy lunch, we went for a nice stroll and found a patch of beach in the shade. We hung out there and then set off to find a good sunset point. It makes me wonder why so many people clamber to the same place when there was all this beach and rocks where you could watch it and with a much better view. The sunset was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. We then headed straight for an early dinner and drinks along the river. The food was great, the conversation was great - it was just perfect. Thank you! (*^_^*)

Stunning senset

The next day we were up early to catch a flight back to Vientiane. I'm not even gonna waste my breath talking about the arsehole owner. All I will say is that he should be grateful that we bothered to pay at all - the informal manner of the guesthouse meant that we so easily could have just left and by the time he noticed, we would have been long gone. 


Back in Vientiane we checked ourselves into the luxury Settha Palace Hotel. I told you about it before - definitely google it! It was a shock to suddenly be faffed over - all the fuss was just annoying and bit embarrassing to be honest! We checked into our room and hung out for a bit - reading about the history of the hotel and admiring the architecture and high ceilings - as well as stealing everything from the bathroom! HAHAHA! We then decided to go and chill by the pool - typical that the one day we had the opportunity to sunbathe, it was cloudy. The sun did eventually break out, but by that time, it was already starting to set. 


That place was so expensive. We had lunch there and after dinner went back for drinks. Probably the most that we have spent during the whole 2 weeks! Outrageous! As gorgeous as the hotel was, it seems like it's a bit wasted in Vientiane. I don't see how they have the tourists to keep it running but hey, they must be doing OK! It was so nice to end our trip in such a luxury and historical place that it didn't even matter at that point!


Then came the laborious trip back to Japan. The whole of the 5th was spent in transit, but the 7 hour layover in Bangkok really wasn't as bad as other layovers that I've had before. Maybe because there were 2 of us, I dunno. We did a spot of shopping - god - dealing with so many different currencies is such a pain!! My friend had completely run out of money, so we were trying to scrimp all this currencies together to get him some food! The flight back wasn't as bad either - mainly because it was shorter, but then when we arrived back in Japan, fatigue hit hard and it was the hustle and bustle of the stations that just made it all that much worse.


Back and work and back to the daily grind now though. My resolve to come back with a better attitude has definitely worked - my first couple of days back have been more relaxed and I've realised that I know what I need to do. Kind of! The break was perfect - it was exactly what I needed.


Laos is such a special country. And it was my pleasure to share the whole experience with such a special friend.


Thank you lovey! 


xoxo