LUANG PRABANG 08/15-02-09

A baldy's convention in Luang Prabang

One of the many beautiful wats in Luang Prabang

Kuang Si waterfalls
Sunset over the Mekong

We have come to the conclusion during this trip, that the order in which you see things can determine whether you really enjoy a place or not. So after a week without hot water, but with uncomfortable bedding, it was with particular delight that we arrived in Luang Prabang – the seat of the overthrown Lao monarcy. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, filled with temples, and the the home comforts you require. We stocked up on coffee, ham and egg bagels, baguettes, earl grey tea – and a cheeky tapas – albondigas if you are reading this Chris! And we both took a bath, the first in 4 ½ months, marvellous!

We went to the theatre – a Laoatian version of the Hindu epic, Ramayana, the highlight being the battle between the tourist who wanted to take flash photography during the performance and steward, backed up by other tutting tourists. We signed up for a days cookery course, excellent fun, sticky rice DONE! Rodent DONE!

We extended our Laotian Visa as we still had much to do, and hopefully as you have seen, we updatged the blog.

Luang Prabang is one of those places where longer term travellers mixed with package holidaymakers, where some try to find the true price of things and others are happy to pay hugely inflated prices. Consequently it is by far the most expensive place in Laos, but it is well worth it.