More Ambling and the Search for Cheap Booze

Trip Start Jan 09, 2009
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Trip End Feb 23, 2009


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Flag of Lao Peoples Dem Rep  ,
Wednesday, February 18, 2009

One of the things that bugs me about Luang Prabang isn't the fact that it's exaggerated as one of the topmost places in Asia in terms of beauty, although it is an exaggeration, but that the main street is 'closed' off by around eight p.m. when the locals hijack the place to start selling their products, and 99.9% of them are on the ground - otherwise called the 'Nightmarket.' Thereafter, it's like treading on eggshells, made worse by the fact that 'all and sundry' are walking through the same direction, never paying any attention that there's some 'getting through the other way' problem. Sleepwalking masses, usually, are found everywhere.
There have just been floods of historical proportions in the north-west of England. No one seemed to know, or care about, the warning signs.
Spent - or was it wasted - another day here strolling around the streets, not attempting to visit anywhere 'special,' just falling into finding a Frenchy feel about the place: baguettes being sold and other peculiar things which I now can't remember. If you amble enough, you can stroll around to places above the twisting river. the rickety wooden bridges that span it, the greenery shining in the blistering sun, looks reminiscent from something out of the classic movie, 'Bridge On The River Kwai.'
The rest of the resort is characterized by temples on the hill decorated with gold-plated patterns that this time glint or twinkle in the sunlight. The sky was also azure blue. Monks clad in the orange robes are seen conspicuously from time to time - and were also ambling.
This, about Laos, has been said all before. What has also been said all before is that Luang Prabang possesses one of the cheapest bars for selling the infamously branded Beerlao at 7.5 thousand Kip a bottle. I went out once more to re-visit.
There is also an excellent place near there for viewing the sunset,  enhanced and idyllically glimpsed through branching tropical plants.
Tourist traps like this are in abundance and are a damned nuisance.
Booked a ticket back to Kunming, China, which leaves from here every morning from a bus station that houses a Chinese-style hotel. At the travel agency, just down from the guest house, and one of many that line the main street, I got ripped off. 
Same old tale.
Showered, sat in the coffee lounge. The owner seems to pride himself upon it. Nice room to spend one more night, though. 
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