Luang Prabang Adventures

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I took the mini van from Phonsavan to Luang Prabang but I am sorry to tell you it was a very rough ride. Despite my 2 travel sick tablets, by the time I arrived in LPB I was very unwell. Luckily Hannah (a girl from Finland who I ended up sharing a room with) also felt unwell that night so we were both pathetic together.

I loved LBP. It is a charming city with so much to offer. The first day I took it easy, relaxing at various local coffee shops and exploring the town. There is a daily night market which sells loads of handicrafts and it a great spot for bit of sounvenir shopping. Hannah and I ate from a super market stall that night. The deal was you buy a bowl for 10,000 kip ($1.25) and you can fill it sky high with noodles, vegetables and other local fare. Delish!

The next day Hannah and I went to Kuang Si Waterfall. The waterfall is spectacular. We hiked all the way to the top and rewarded ourselves with a dip in the freezing cold but turquoise blue water. At the waterfall there is an enclosure where Asian Black Bears are being housed after they have been rescued from illegal traders. It was so well done and the bears looked so happy. We caught them having an afternoon nap. So cute- reminded me of Vegemite.

On Thursday and Friday I attended a Mahut Training course. Trained elephants that were used for logging a few years ago, but are now out of work have been rehoused at these mahout camps. As they are expensive to care for the locals now use toursit dollars as a means for caring for them. The course was brilliant. The first day involved learning elephant commands (in laos) such as go (pie), left (si), right (qua), spray water (boun boun) and many others. We rode the elephants bare back down to the river, gave them a bath and took them into the jungle for bedtime. The second day we gave them another bath, a walk and then we had to say goodbye. My gorgeous elephant was named Orla Thai and she was the best behaved. She was just like a big Vegemite! After lunch (food and accomodation were amazing) I spent the afternoon kayaking down the river. I got burnt to a crisp but besides that I had the best 2 days yet.

Friday night I treated myself to a $5 room and slept so well. At 5am on Saturday I was up for the morning alms ceremony which involves the novices and monks collecting food offerings from local people. It is quite a sight. I caught a 8am mini van to Luang Nam Tha- yet again another rough rode but I will continue that in the next installment.
I highly reccommend LPB. It is a welcoming, quaint town with much to offer all travellers. I hope I get to go back one day.

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Photos

Morning Alms Ceremony
This is a bad photo, I have better ones but haven't got them on a cd yet. This gives you an idea though.

Wildlife for sale
Who knew giraffes were so reasonably priced these days!

Utopia
Relaxing at Utopia with a drink watching the sun sink away.

Shampoo Add
I felt like I was in a commercial for Herbal Essense!

Mahout Course
This is the uniform we had to wear. I am sitting on my balcony.

Disembarking
Please refrain from standing until your elephant has come to a complete stop.

Mahout graduates
Steve. Mark and I all graduated from Mahout 101.

Cuddles
I whisper to Orla Thai that she is the best elephant there.

Big feet
Elephants are very sturdy on their feet but to see them slipping through the mud is a little un-nerving

Goodbye
My last photo on Orkla Thai. Isn't she pretty?

Kayaking in LPB
Day 2 of Mahour Course involved kayaking. My guide was awesome. Carr and I flipped in the rapids. So much fun.

New friends
Danni and Sonny came kayaking too. They both live in Vietnam. Go girls!

Comments

[Kirsty]

Chloe that waterfall looks so beautiful! What an oasis!!! Just gorgeous. Sounds like your having an amazing adventure over there! take care, kirst. xxx

[Rachel-Anne and Mom]

What an adventure
Just sharing with my beautiful girl all the adventures in your day. We love catching up with your journey and experiencing it through your incredible blogs. For me, its all part of the Mom plan to teach my kids the incredible opportunities that exist in the world. We read, then talk, and of course I reminise about my own journeys. Rachel-Anne was awestruck reading your blog and seeing the elephant. You look amazing Chloe! I hope you are cherishing every magical second of this experience. From our end, in the midst of report cards, its all too delightlful to hear about. Keep smiling! Miss your energy at school. Love Kathie

[brenda]

Herbalesence!Or is that 'Elephant Girl'
Hi there elephant girl... just think, you could make story books out of your blogs and photos for any future children you might have. Wouldn't they be amazed to see their mummy on the back of an elephant! This place sounds amazing.... perhaps if you need someone to go back there one day, I might be the one. All my love, Mum

[Mia]

Yay Sissy! This is so good! I love your elephant adventures, such a rare experience. I too would return to this oasis with you. Vegemite says he loves you xxx

[Rachel-Anne and Lauren Page]

Hello from DOWN UNDER!
Hey Miss Pond, its Lauren's birthday and i decided to show her your blog. (Everyone misses you SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much!) We are enjoying year 6 very much but would be better with you. We are eating LOADS of lollies but just enough so that we don't get a sugar rush. PSSA is AWESOME. Everyone enjoys it so much! Just last week we played against South Halls Head and Vollyball ( Rachel-Anne's Sport) Won 3 sets to nothing. while the Netball (Lauren's sport) also had a big win with 13 to 4. The Footy team also had a win, thrassing by 56 points but hockey and soccer had a tragic loss and in the end even though they lossed we comforted them and then they were all happy in the end! At the moment everyone is excited about your visit back and can't wait to see you. Everyone always talks about you and love to hear about your travels and we know for a start that we are looking forword to your visit as much as everyone and hope to hear from u soon! Love Rachel-Anne and Lauren Page

[Westernred]

Hello girls
A big, big hello to RAH and Lauren and all the other students who might see this message. It made my day reading your message girls. I have just finished an amazing few days in Laos where I ziplined my way through the jungle at a place called the Gibbon Experience. Unfortunately we did not see any gibbons but we heard their giggling during the day. This morning I arrived in Thailand and I will be here for about 1 month. I am trying to find a course where I can learn to speak a little bit of Thai. I will use the internet to help me find a place. I hear that Perth is very cold at the moment. I hope everyone is staying healthy. Soon it will be school holiday time again. I bet you are looking forward to sleep-ins and relaxing days. RAH, tell Mum, Dad and Lainee I say hello. Thanks again for the wonderful email. Big love ands I'll see you soon, Miss P. x