Luang Prabang SHEBANG (sorry)

After the boat trip that was more Apocalypse Now than Huckleberry Finn, it was a relief to arrive in Luang Prabang, a beautiful and unexpected French Colonial town with wine and baguettes amongst the noodles and monks.  Luang Prabang is a UNESCO world heritage site which means that the town isn't full of hustling bus drivers, neon signs and lady boys.  In fact, buses and trucks aren't allowed within the town centre at all.

 

 

After getting our bearings, enjoying wine, crepes and baguettes and finding a great colonial style guest house we went out to explore the sites.

 

The Royal Palace Museum, full of national treasures and a LOT of images of Buddha

We continued our obsession with everything wet by taking a Tuk Tuk to the spectacular waterfalls at Khoun Si. Next to the waterfalls was a bear santuary where rescued 'moon bears' or Asiatic black bears lived. They looked happy : )

  

  

Lodgings here don't look too shabby - if you like the bear necessities, arf.

Bear with me, arf arf.

 

  

  

  

After a few drinks in Utopia, a bar which lives up to it's name with loads of reclining sun loungers, axe pillows and cushions on a 28 metre 'skydeck', we headed home to find a party in full swing in our garden. It was the owner of the hostel's birthday and it was Beer Lao and fried chicken wings all round. Sadly there is no photo evidence as everyone had to dash at 11.30 becauseof the curfew.

We have been enjoying a wide variety of foods here including a novel BBQ arrangement:

 

The man came and lifted out the centre of our table and it was transformed in to a barbeque with a bucket of hot coals. Then they placed a silver dish on top which simultaneously cooked a delicious soup made with the water buffalo juices running from the grill on top. Matt was a soup fiend!

Also there are MASSIVE sandwiches - Anna would be jealous of my enormous bap:

Climbed up to Phu Si hill above Luang Prabang to see the temple, the sacred cave and Buddha's footprint and to get a panoramic view of the city.

Don't worry, they're not really monks.

Buddha's foot is the one on the left.

Here you can see that on the zebra crossing signs they have a picture of a lady! Also the fat man in the dress behind  me has been following us since Chiang Mai  : S

We have met a few interesting characters here, Laos and Dutch (unsurprisingly) including Erklass who once drove some famous Thai monks to Belgium...Anyway, we're off to the book shop/exchange WHICH IS ALSO A TEASHOP AND BAKERY!!! Jenny is very happy with this!

See youse in Nong Khiaw...

P.S. Jenny 88 - Matt 87, watch this space for more hot monk watching action!