Lazy Days!

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Our arrival in Luang Prabang off the slow boat was greeted with the usual barrage of people offering tuk tuk rides & guest houses. After much walking around we finally settled on the Sok Dee Guesthouse, which was very nice. Its only problem being its owner who was constantly trying to rip us off! Everytime was tried to pay for something he'd only return half the change he was supposed to, and then he'd start staring at the ceiling trying to put on his most innocent face. After a no from us, he'd give us another quarter, another no, and we'd finally have the correct amount. Its hard work!

Luang Prabang is a really nice place, its actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its full of amazing Wats (buddist temples) but also a great deal of french architecture from colonial times. For somewhere so remote it was surprisingly touristy - there's a good mix of backpackers here off the Mekong slow boat but also, thanks to the airport, a fair amount of families on holiday as well.

We visited the Wat Xieng Thong which is perhaps the most interesting Wat here, climbed up to Wat Phu Si for a sunset view of the city and visited the night market for some cheap buys, but our time here was mostly spent chilling and absorbing the unique atmosphere. Vicki managed to work up the energy for her first Asian massage - which was very good, if a little scary at times. Its just too hot at the moment to be too energetic. And April, the hottest month, is still to come! Luckily for us its the Songkran, the buddist new year festival, in mid April. This is celebrated with a huge nationwide water fight (originating from Buddhist cleansing ceremonies). Its seems some people have started a bit early and so we received a couple of much needed soakings in Luang Prabang!

We were lucky to have met a great group of guys from the slow boat. We all came to know each other as 'The Australians', 'The Canadians' and 'The English'! We met up regularly for dinner and drinks. It was great to have a bit of a gang to go partying with for once. Whilst there is a midnight curfew in place which limited crazy parties, there are a couple of really funky bars we enjoyed before closing.

We're heading south now to Vang Vieng, along one of the only sealed roads in the country, route 13.

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Photos

The Australians and Canadians
The rest of the english were unfortunately down the pub!

Comments

[Hi]

Lazy days have arrived in West Wales too - a massive 18 centigrade with NO wind/ Bliss Enjoy x x John and Jacqui