Luang Prabang

We got off the slow boat at Luang Prabang and had the hardest climb to get off the boat and up to the road. First there was a small plank to walk across which kept slipping and moving in the sand, then a climb up a sandy bank, pretty much like climbing a sand dune with a whole lot of people standing on the sand dune making the climb even harder as you have to navigate your way around them. And then there was a really steep set of stairs that were also quite rickety and you had to dodge the locals coming down! We got to the top and were so hot and tired and grumpy it wasn't the best welcome into Laos. We got ourselves sorted and into a tuk tuk to take us to our hotel. It was a lovely spot over looking the river. After a shower and a cool down we were feeling much more human. So went for a wonder to the night market and dinner. I was very tired and when what I ordered to drink didn't come and they bought us something else instead it was a bit much. Poor Shaun had to cope with me getting upset.  

The next day after a really good sleep i was feeling much better.  After breakfast we went to an organisation called big brother mouse which is all about building literacy in Laos, a bit part of their program is getting books out to children in villages who otherwise have no access to books. They also have an informal session a couple of times a day at 9am and 5pm where locals come in and English speaking tourist can go along and chat, to help them practice their English. We both really enjoyed it, Shaun helped a monk with his English homework and I spoke to a young man who had just finished high school and was waiting on his exam results to decide what he would do next. 

Later that afternoon we went for a walk to the royal palace, it was soo hot! I didn't overly enjoy it, the main exhibit was the palace with artefacts from the last royals who lived there then the was a smaller exhibit of cars the family had owned. Shaun found it interesting that most of the cars were gifts from the American government. 

That evening we want to find a bar called utopia. It supposed to be really amazing. After a lot of walking (it wasn't that far, just hard to find!) we found it and ordered dinner.  The food was nice and the atmosphere very chilled out, but it was far from the raging party we had been told it would be. After dinner we headed back to our hotel, it was a lovely moonlit walk back.  

We got up at 5.30 the next day to go and watch the alms giving ceremony. I had read quite a bit online about it and was really keen to go and watch but as it held no personal significance for me I didn't want to participate.  It was about 2 mins walk from where we were staying which was nice at 5.45am! We got our selves a spot across the road where we could watch in silence and not disturb the monks. Unfortunately not all tourists were as respectful. We had been told we needed to have our shoulders and knees covered and that the ceremony takes place in silence. I found on tourist in particulars behaviour difficult to stand and watch as in her short shorts, singlet and high heels whilst yabbering away to her friend down the street she was using her flash and taking photos right up in the monks faces.  If you want to go and observe religious ceremonies you need to be respectful. 

After the ceremony ended we went back to the hotel and went back to bed, while Shaun slept I had a Skype conversation with my class back home which was really cool. I really liked seeing them :)

A bit later we got up and packed up, our next stop was Siem Reap in Cambodia. We decided to fly this bit after the trials of our boat trip. 

See you in Cambodia!