Luang Prabang
The boat dropped us to shore at Luang Prabang at about 5pm.
Instead of going all the way to the town it dropped us about 10k outside it. Giving the local tuk tuk drivers some business. We hoped on with a load of Irish actually one Dutch, one Brit and an American dude who looked like 'The Dude' from the Big Lebowski. Was a good laugh as the majority of them were drunk. Beside us though were the Irish couple from the guest house!
We had accommodation booked in Khonsavan Guest house (4 bed dorm). The rest of them didn't so when we arrived the Irish couple hopped off to see if our place had some space.
They did not! Off they went in search of somewhere to stay but not before exchanging facebook names!
When they were settled in a place nearby they messaged us about going for some food with them.
We strolled through the night market and ate in some local place which was lovely. We all played it safe with some veg rice! Went for a drink, had a great chat with them.
The next morning I was quite ill and Daniel had met some lads from the hostel who were up for a 5 a side so they went off to the local schoolyard for a game (while school was on). They got a few funny looks but had a good crowd of locals watching on. Daniel being his competitive self, his team won and he scored the winning goal wahayy!!!! We were fortunate enough to have a pool at our hostel so he was able to cool down after.
I was feeling a little better in the afternoon so we went for a stroll around the town, beautiful town, very much a French vibe going on. Lovely shops with homemade clothes, jewelry and handicrafts.
Boutique hotels along the river and verrrry fancy restaurants!
We spotted a bamboo bridge going across to a small village. When you cross the bridge you are asked to pay 10,000 kip (about 1e) because during rainy season it is swept away and needs to be built every year! (So we didn't cross it hahahaha)
That evening we went for a lovely meal in a French restaurant with our new besties and on to the bar where all the cool kids go 'Utopia' (everyone was under 20!!!)
The next day a load of us bundled into a minivan and visited Kuang Si Waterfall, it was an Irish crowd which was nice, we had also met three lovely girls two Irish, one Scot.
We weren't expecting much as we had visited a few waterfalls and they were lovely but a bit underwhelming.
On the way in to the park there is a bear sanctuary. Then made our way up to the waterfall as we walked we thought ok wow this is amazing. Crystal blue water falling over steps as we made our way up.
When we made it to the waterfall we saw people sitting on the edge of the top, it looked terrifying but savage too so we trekked up past it to the top. Not a very easy route but theres a reason the best things to get to are the hardest.
Standing on top of it looking down was spectacular and swimming in and around the waterfall was amazing, Daniel and Aiden swam in under the waterfall into a cave. Note to self when swimming under a waterfall, go around it NOT straight through it!!!!!!!
We stayed there for a while taking it all in and then made our way back down for our pick up at 3. Did not want to leave!!!!
When we got back we were starving so the 4 of us met in Jomas (Jos' Ma!!)
Cracking café with salads, sandwiches and coffee!! We stayed for hours!!
Went for a stroll along the river then and had a few drinks in the Garden bar, Stayed till close (11.30) and tried to get back before curfew of midnight.
(So in Luang Prabang there is a curfew for residents and tourists, bars close at 11 and you have to be home before 12 - its not so strict for tourists but theres nowhere to go after 11.30 except a bowling alley that stays open till 2am!! )
So as we made our way back down the empty streets, a young columbium girl approached us out of breath and obviously shaken, She asked us if we knew where ya ya hostel was......we got it up on our maps and told her wed walk her back. She explained that a car was following her and she felt very nervous!
After we left her, calling ourselves heroes another girl approached us saying a guy on a bike was following her and she was nervous too!! So capes back on we walked her back too.
Glad we were there to get them back safely!
Obviosuly theres an element after midnight and girls should not be walking anywhere on their own!
So, and I hope were not boring you!
The next day we were advised to visit the 'Bomb Muesum'
So a little history lesson now. Its so interesting and we had no idea about any of this.
During the Vietnam War (between the 50s - 70s) the US wanted to cut off the supply route to the Vietcong who were running supplies through Laos. Laos became the most bombed country in the world. For years the US denied any operations in Laos. There were more bombs dropped in Laos then in ALL WW2. To this day there are 28 million unexploded bombs (UXOs). The bombs include clusterbombs and missiles. A lot of farmland contains bombs buried underneath so when famers are digging they can detonate them. Kids when searching for food, scrap metal and fishing can also come across them and there have been several deaths due to this.
There are currently organisations tasked at clearing them but its still going to take a lot of time.
Very sobering experience and learnt a lot more about the country and the people here.
That evening a local French café was showing 'Captain Fantastic'. Lovely setting in what felt like a converted attic while being served Fruit shakes and curries!
Great movie too by the way! Go watch it!
Early night as we catch a bus in the morning to Vang Vieng and to catch sunrise at 6.30.
Woke at 5.30 and headed to the temple to watch sunrise, after climbing a load of steps, the view was clouded and misty so there was no great sunrise still nice all the same!
Brekkie and bus to Vang Vieng!
Coffee
Sundried Tomatos
Novelty Cafe
Bear Sanctuary
JOMAS!!
Kuang Si Waterfall
Instead of going all the way to the town it dropped us about 10k outside it. Giving the local tuk tuk drivers some business. We hoped on with a load of Irish actually one Dutch, one Brit and an American dude who looked like 'The Dude' from the Big Lebowski. Was a good laugh as the majority of them were drunk. Beside us though were the Irish couple from the guest house!
We had accommodation booked in Khonsavan Guest house (4 bed dorm). The rest of them didn't so when we arrived the Irish couple hopped off to see if our place had some space.
They did not! Off they went in search of somewhere to stay but not before exchanging facebook names!
When they were settled in a place nearby they messaged us about going for some food with them.
We strolled through the night market and ate in some local place which was lovely. We all played it safe with some veg rice! Went for a drink, had a great chat with them.
The next morning I was quite ill and Daniel had met some lads from the hostel who were up for a 5 a side so they went off to the local schoolyard for a game (while school was on). They got a few funny looks but had a good crowd of locals watching on. Daniel being his competitive self, his team won and he scored the winning goal wahayy!!!! We were fortunate enough to have a pool at our hostel so he was able to cool down after.
I was feeling a little better in the afternoon so we went for a stroll around the town, beautiful town, very much a French vibe going on. Lovely shops with homemade clothes, jewelry and handicrafts.
Boutique hotels along the river and verrrry fancy restaurants!
We spotted a bamboo bridge going across to a small village. When you cross the bridge you are asked to pay 10,000 kip (about 1e) because during rainy season it is swept away and needs to be built every year! (So we didn't cross it hahahaha)
That evening we went for a lovely meal in a French restaurant with our new besties and on to the bar where all the cool kids go 'Utopia' (everyone was under 20!!!)
The next day a load of us bundled into a minivan and visited Kuang Si Waterfall, it was an Irish crowd which was nice, we had also met three lovely girls two Irish, one Scot.
We weren't expecting much as we had visited a few waterfalls and they were lovely but a bit underwhelming.
On the way in to the park there is a bear sanctuary. Then made our way up to the waterfall as we walked we thought ok wow this is amazing. Crystal blue water falling over steps as we made our way up.
When we made it to the waterfall we saw people sitting on the edge of the top, it looked terrifying but savage too so we trekked up past it to the top. Not a very easy route but theres a reason the best things to get to are the hardest.
Standing on top of it looking down was spectacular and swimming in and around the waterfall was amazing, Daniel and Aiden swam in under the waterfall into a cave. Note to self when swimming under a waterfall, go around it NOT straight through it!!!!!!!
We stayed there for a while taking it all in and then made our way back down for our pick up at 3. Did not want to leave!!!!
When we got back we were starving so the 4 of us met in Jomas (Jos' Ma!!)
Cracking café with salads, sandwiches and coffee!! We stayed for hours!!
Went for a stroll along the river then and had a few drinks in the Garden bar, Stayed till close (11.30) and tried to get back before curfew of midnight.
(So in Luang Prabang there is a curfew for residents and tourists, bars close at 11 and you have to be home before 12 - its not so strict for tourists but theres nowhere to go after 11.30 except a bowling alley that stays open till 2am!! )
So as we made our way back down the empty streets, a young columbium girl approached us out of breath and obviously shaken, She asked us if we knew where ya ya hostel was......we got it up on our maps and told her wed walk her back. She explained that a car was following her and she felt very nervous!
After we left her, calling ourselves heroes another girl approached us saying a guy on a bike was following her and she was nervous too!! So capes back on we walked her back too.
Glad we were there to get them back safely!
Obviosuly theres an element after midnight and girls should not be walking anywhere on their own!
So, and I hope were not boring you!
The next day we were advised to visit the 'Bomb Muesum'
So a little history lesson now. Its so interesting and we had no idea about any of this.
During the Vietnam War (between the 50s - 70s) the US wanted to cut off the supply route to the Vietcong who were running supplies through Laos. Laos became the most bombed country in the world. For years the US denied any operations in Laos. There were more bombs dropped in Laos then in ALL WW2. To this day there are 28 million unexploded bombs (UXOs). The bombs include clusterbombs and missiles. A lot of farmland contains bombs buried underneath so when famers are digging they can detonate them. Kids when searching for food, scrap metal and fishing can also come across them and there have been several deaths due to this.
There are currently organisations tasked at clearing them but its still going to take a lot of time.
Very sobering experience and learnt a lot more about the country and the people here.
That evening a local French café was showing 'Captain Fantastic'. Lovely setting in what felt like a converted attic while being served Fruit shakes and curries!
Great movie too by the way! Go watch it!
Early night as we catch a bus in the morning to Vang Vieng and to catch sunrise at 6.30.
Woke at 5.30 and headed to the temple to watch sunrise, after climbing a load of steps, the view was clouded and misty so there was no great sunrise still nice all the same!
Brekkie and bus to Vang Vieng!
Coffee
Sundried Tomatos
Bamboo Bridge
Novelty Cafe
Bear Sanctuary
JOMAS!!
Kuang Si Waterfall
What amazing writing..I'm there..great Job Jess!!
ReplyDeleteWhat amazing writing..I'm there..great Job Jess!!
ReplyDelete