Beautiful Laos and Wat's That temple..!!??.

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  Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang, Lao Peoples Dem Rep
Saturday, February 9, 2008

Well, thought I'd better get started on my next blog. Currently sitting at a PC in downtown Siem Reap Cambodia. Had a fab flight here which I nearly missed -strolling to the gate at the appointed time I was rushed thru and out on to the tarmac to the plane. I was the last one on - there were 7 of us on a 72 seater!! In flight service was very efficient as you might imagine and we could all have a window seat or several in fact!
Hadn't thought thru the fact that it's currently Chinese new year and therefore everywhere with a Chinese influence is packed out as its holiday and party time, consequently finding some accomm was a bit of a bind but helped out by a nice licensed cab/tourist chap who I've hired for the day tomorrow to see some of the various sites of the Angkor Wat sites -just bought a book on it in fact so that's my reading for the next few hours. my guide alsom took me to the small Cambodian land mine museum and relief fund run by a guy poacher turned gamekeeper who is now involved in demining areas and supporting the children of families whose lives have been blighted by landmine maiming or deaths

Angkor Wat

. 
Stayed in some rather nice tho bijou (i.e tiny) accomm in Luang Prabang but it was right in the middle of the old town and within easy walking distance of most of the stuff I wanted to see and do.
Very nearly got picked up by a boatman who started chatting to me whilst I was debating going into yet another temple given that the guide book had said it was 500kip and it was in fact 20,000kip. Mind you given that there are 17,500 kip to the pound it's not like it was going to break the bank! This chap asked me if I had a boyfriend and without even thinking I said no, he then went on to offer me a nice boat trip down the river and whilst he may have been totally legit I decided it wasn't the brightest idea...
I'm glad I have my book  for this evening's entertainment as the hotel I'm staying in have rather unsportingly got signs up saying that handguns , grenades and needles are not allowed..... ho hum
The night markets in Luang Prabang were fabulous, the array of stunningly coloured items that were on offer particularly the silk scarves, but also fabulous bags, tshirts, wooden carvings, silver ware etc . Once it was dark the stall keepers illuminated their wares with a light bulb hanging over them. With a large number of these it made for a lovely effect and it was relaxing to walk amongst it all and just look

Bayon at Angkor

. You weren't hassled the stall holders would just call Sabadee (hello) to you as you went past. 
Just backtracking a bit (just had a look at my last blog) had a nice couple of days in Vientaine and had a traditional Lao massage on my feet and legs and upper body -blimey she'd strong hands! some of the "massaging " on my legs was a bit uncomfortable at the time but no ill effects afterwards apärt forn the odd bruise! You have to try these things! It was then onwards to Vang Vieng that I had not expected that much of. This was after a 3.5 hour journey on a VIP bus, hmm not very VIP by my standards but all part of the experience and full of travellers and no local fowl which you get on non VIP buses! In any event Vang Vieng turned out to be a little treasure. Along the banks of the river were local houses and local people washed themselves , their clothes and even their trucks in the river!Young children played in it and older people crossed it  (with garments held up) where it was shallow to avoid paying the toll to cross it. At either end of the bridge there were some tasteful decorations (see picture) You'd be amazed how many poeple didn't twig what they were. Had some really good Pad Lao here -noodles and veg n stuff and tofu -yum! Ran into some Canadians and a Kiwi I bumped into in Vientiane and had supper with them one evening.
Well it's now 13th February and I'm in town town Phnom Pehn, Cambodia

Bridge at Vang Vieng

. It's about 12.45 lunchtime and I'm extremely grateful for the overhead fan which is preventing my head from exploding in the heat. Am staying at a backpackers place overlooking a lake -pretty basic but pleasant enuf for only $5 a night! The area around here is a maze or warren of tiny streets packed with places to stay,eat, buy stuff, make phones calls, use the internet etc , On arrival here yesterday teemed up with a nice chap that had been on the same bus from Siem Reap and we took a tuk tuk out to the "Killing Fields" the site of the mass graves discovered after Pol Pot was deposed. We also visited centre 21 , a school in PP which had been turned over to a torture and extermination camp during Pol Pot's reign -all very sobering. On a brighter note whilst in Siem Reap I spent 2 days with my trusty driver and guide Sokhem and visited most of the many sites of the Angkor civilisation. The scale of the places and it's sites is truly amazing  my enjoyment only marginally marred by the hoards of (I think) Korean tourists. Going to have a break now and then go out and visit the Silver Pagoda later this afternoon when its cooled down a bit.
TTFN
Asia Sal xx
P.S Would be great to hear from some more of you'se, thanks to all my regular contributors -I really appreciate the contact!

Post your own travel photos for friends and family More Pictures

Hair washing at Vang Vieng	In the monument @Killing Fields	Monks in Luang Prabang	Nature and bldgs competing -Angkor
Road to one of the temples -oops!	Sleeping Buddah -Luang Prabang	Vang Vieng

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