Luang Prabang

After our long long boat ride to Luang Prabang it was time to find a guesthouse. We had a recommendation for a place called Cold River from the owners of the place we stayed in in Chang Mai and it turned out to be great. Elliot and one of the girls jumped in a taxi (by that I mean a weird vanbikethingy) and managed to get the last rooms. The owners were lovely and cooked for us twice in the 5 days we were there and didn't want any money for the meals! After quick showers we all headed out for cocktails, which may sound a bit flash but they were 25,000 kip for two mojitos, which is just over one pound! We then had a Lao barbecue which involves cooking your own meat on a metal container over hot coals. You also put broth in the bit around the edge and cook vegetables in that. It was lovely, so lovely we had exactly the same meal two nights later!

Even more lovely waterfall

The next day Elliot, I, Craig and Cathy wandered around a few temples during the day and then had local Lao food at the guesthouse.

Local transport

The day after that we hired a tuk tuk and went to see two waterfalls. We got there quite early to the first one and were the only ones swimming for a while. It really was like a picture postcard and you could clamber up all the rocks to go higher. Then we headed to the second and considerably bigger waterfall. We managed to climb up one side and down the other without anyone falling over. It was only when we'd walked across the top of the waterfall clinging to a rickety fence we found the Danger Keep Out signs. Then I went to go swimming in the waterfall pool and fell over there, on flat ground! It was a bit muddy though. We also got to see some rescued bears and a tiger. We also bumped into the captain of our slow boat, who was wandering around filming everything with his flash video camera. I guess that job pays well.

More waterfall

Cathy and Craig left the next day so we had a couple of realxing days. We walked out a temple and met a really nice local guy who told us about a weavers village and blacksmith village that we could visit by bike.

So the next day, which was our last, that's what we did. Please excuse my use of next day so much, but I have no idea what day of the week it is, so can't say Monday, Tuesday etc as it means nothing to me!

We bumped into the same guy in the Blacksmith village, as that's were he lived and he told us we could go and swim in the river. We ended up only paddling as he's forgotten to tell us that as soon you stepped in the water you sunk down about a foot into the mud!

Temple (called a Wat)

The highlights definitely include the waterfalls and hanging around with our new travelling buddies, who we are going to try and meet up with again.

Then it was time to leave, so we booked ourselves on a bus to head to Vang Vieng the home of tubing.........

Until next time

Carla and Elliot

x

Waterfall