A Very Short Week in Laos

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We did a quick trip through Laos, about a week in only the biggest, and therefore most touristy, cities. It’s a beautiful country, and the atmosphere is much more relaxing and welcoming than Vietnam. In the northern city we visited, Louang Prabang, electricity and telephones only arrived about 5 years ago. Even in the capital, Vientiane, there were some dirt roads and all open sewers. Wow, we really loved it. Lots of sitting around, and lots of looking at temples. We arrived in Louang Prabang, unwittingly, just as the yearly boat racing festival was beginning - the biggest party in town. There was a gigantic street market for a couple of days, and thousands of people came in from the countryside to watch and compete. The city was just PACKED and there was music and food and fun all around. We also took a Lao cooking course, which all of you are invited to sample when we get home!

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Photos

Vientiane
This world capital has dirt roads and open sewers.

Vientiane 2
Brian and I chillin' with our weapons

Louang Prabang
There are wats (temples) EVERYWHERE

Louang Prabang 2
Sara sized door

Louang Prabang 3
The crowds for boat-racing day - the first time we'd seen umbrellas in months, and there sure were a lot of them!

Louang Prabang 4
There were little boys with serious looking toy guns everywhere, strange to see playing in a temple yard, and strange for a country so absolutely devastated by war.

Louang Prabang 6
Cookin' up a storm - chicken larp on the way!

Louang Prabang 7
I believe Brian's making some eggplant with minced pork and oyster sauce.

Louang Prabang 8
The Pak Ou caves where people bring home-made buddha statues and put them everywhere.

Louang Prabang 9
The Mekong

Vientiane 3
Just a pretty picture of the Mekong.