Louang Prabang, Laos - 3rd December 2008

Meat on a stick...my favourite :-)
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It was a very, very bumpy journey to LP. We were in a mini bus and although the distance is only 220km it took 6 hours because the roads wind around mountains and at other places the roads are pretty much non-existent. As we were travelling with Kat we got a 3 bed room to keep the cost down. At night, the main street in LP becomes a night market. The traders put up red canopies and place their wares on the floor. The main things to buy are jewellery, handbags, purses, t-shirts and paintings. There is also a little narrow street that becomes a restaurant at night and this is where we ate because it’s o so cheap. We had a bowl of noodle soup with pork for 8,000 kip (65p). It’s got veg and things in it and you add your own sauces and lettuce and green beans as you eat. It was very tasty. You can also buy a huge piece of chicken that has been barbequed and it has a honey marinade on it for 8000 kip too. I kept calling it “meat on a stick”. Mmm mmmm!!

The Night Market
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The market traders are so much more relaxed in Laos. You aren’t constantly being pestered by them saying “hello, buy something” or “ hey mister you want T-shirt, I have your size” you can walk at you own pace and look at your leisure. This could be somewhat of a problem as now Ruths had the chance to look at things without being pestered she’s decided that she wants to go shopping tonight!!!

We went to the Koung Si waterfalls for lunch one day (we bought sandwiches off the food stalls that are open all day because that is another cheap way to eat...the restaurants are alot more expensive here then Vang Viang). We hired a tuk-tuk to take us and wait for us and ended up spending about 3 hours there. The path up to the main waterfall takes you through a forest and past a bear sanctuary where Black Asiatic bears that have been rescued from illegal trading live. They are cute. One of them that was sat on a big platform woke up, stretched and then backed up so that his rear end was hanging off the platform and did a huge wee! You then go past several swimming pool areas with small waterfalls. The water is a kind of cloudy light blue colour it looks so inviting. The main falls are amazing. There is a series of small falls at the top and then one large one. We went swimming in the pools (they were freezing!) and then had our picnic before going back to LP.

"VIP" minibus
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Kat left the next day and we moved to a double room and had a lazy day. Which turned into 2 lazy days :) But we did go and see a temple up on a huge hill. We’re leaving Louang tomorrow as we’re going to get the slow boat up the Mekong. It takes 2 days as it stops overnight half way and then we have to stay another night near the border as it will be shut by the time we get there. We’ve splashed out and spent an extra Two pounds fifty each to get soft seats.