We took a taxi about 9.15 to the airport to catch our flight to China. But things didn't quite unfold as planned. It turns out that our plane lands at Nanking before arriving at Kying. The Chinese aiming ration policy treats this as two ports of entry and therefore we need a tourist visa rather than our planned 72 hour transit visa. The check-in staff were very helpful and advised us to go to the Chinese Eastern Airways ticket office to change our flight to tomorrow as this as a direct flight to Kunming. The whole thing took all morning to sort out, but we did it. We had a great lunch in town and everyone was feeling settled. We looked into taking a taxi to Thsiland for tea, but the travel time was too much ... read more

After breakfast we took off for an hour walk as we had another four hour bus journey. We crossed a wooden plank bridges high was a bit narrow given the vans that also crossed with inches to spare as we moved to the side. We took a route that followed the banks of the River Song, before heading away from the river towards the hills. The rains overnight were very heavy so the trails were muddy and Cas had a number of near miss slips. In the end we all walked barefoot through the squelchy mud and orange puddles and it was great fun. We ended our walk at the base of Pha Poak, a steep hill with a bamboo staircase to climb up and a flag on the top (you can just make it out ... read more

Today was mostly about getting stuff done and stuff sorted prior to moving on again. I popped out mid morning to buy our seats on a minibus going to Vang Vieng tomorrow and opted for speed (4 hrs) over luxury (6 hrs). We sent Ed to reception with all our laundry, so that we have everything clean in our bags before we head to China in a few days. When I got back, the room smelt lovely and Ed and Hat had set up 'Lemongrass' which did massages and beauty treatments. Cas was almost asleep as Hat ran through her post treatment feedback form. I made an 'appointment' and was treated to a very professional head, hand and foot massage and I took the optional hair cut and shave. Very relaxing. For lunch we wndered down ... read more

We spent the day on a rice farm called Living Land, a hands-on go at all fourteen stages of rice production. From ploughing a paddy field with a water buffalo (Hat initially thought it was a big pink pig because it was pink and had piggy ears), to planting the young shoots, to harvesting with a sickle to threshing, carrying and dehusking and winnowing. It was a proper practical farming experience and it was amazing to hear that 20% of the rice in Laos is still made in this traditional labour intensive way. We all wore paddy hats and were given a bamboo pole to help our balance as we walked along the thin and very slippery mud banks that enclosed each paddy field. As you can imagine, we all got very muddy and this was ... read more

Back in town we jumped out of the tuk tuk at a restaurant which had been recommended. The food was well prepared, but the taste was lacking. Not sure if this is a Laotian or a restaurant thing. Ed didn't eat, so we headed to a French cafe that served freshly warmed baguettes, oh, and a chocolate eclair for the ladies to share... There is still a French community in Luang Prabang and we spotted a French Bakery that who's display of pastries would have done a Boulangerie in Provence proud. On the way back to our hotel we spotted a Buddhist temple that had huge, and I'm really talking huge, drums hung on chains, and a gold statue of Buddha that towered over Ed and Hat.... read more