Laos (continued)

Ok, I feel in a better mood now and am prepared to finish of this write up....

21/10/06
Sight seeing day: Looked at an array of temples (again!) and went to the Royal Palace, which is now a Museum because the Royal Family were extradited from Laos in 1975. Great to look around, but not nearly as grand inside as you would expect. As in most buildings in Laos, you have to take your shoes off and walk around barefoot (even in the guesthouse!)

The most memorable part of the day was back at the guesthouse: Wayne blocked the toilet (due to a dodgy gut!) Every time he flushed the chain the water (etc…) rose further up the bowl…after numerous attempts to deal with the ‘problem’ (yes, hands were used!) he (to my horror) went and told the guesthouse owner! The owner then went across the road and got his wife (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) to come and sort it out with a giant plunger!! I was so embarrassed - don’t know why – it wasn’t me!!!

The law states that everything here must shut by 11.30, and the vast majority of places here in Luang Prabang stick to this rule. Evidently there is not much nightlife, but we have met up with friends several nights in a row for dinner and drinks.

22/10/06

Shared a tuk-tuk with Roger, Iza and Michael (a Dutch guy we met in Vang Viang) to Kwang Xi waterfalls – journey and falls were stunning, yet again – this country (bar Vientiane) has ceased to disappoint. We spent the day swimming in the pools and climbing up part of the waterfall. Wayne (being Wayne) jumped off one of the waterfalls – everyone gasped in horror, questioning whether there were rocks under the surface?? Fortunately for him, there weren’t, and he started off a bit of a craze...
He also attempted to climb behind the waterfall (not the major one featuring in all the pics) but a reasonably sized one – but this time wasn’t so lucky and nearly slipped! Wayne (aka nature boy) also appreciated the bear rescue centre and tiger sanctuary (all animals were rescued from poachers) that was set in the surrounding jungle.

As with most evenings here, we browsed (and bartered) around the night market and managed to purchase a large proportion of Christmas presents (unfortunately today – 23/10/06 - we paid the price: $70 sea mail!!! so you better like the presents!)

23/10/06
5am start – deliberately got up early to watch the monks receive offerings from the locals and tourists willing to purchase bamboo bowls full of rice. Hundreds of saffron coloured robes paraded past us, but none of the monks seemed to acknowledge the gifts?!? Glad we got up – it was a unique scene and a great experience. After breakfast in a local café we wondered around Wat Xieng Thong, a traditional Lao temple, covered in mosaics and built in the mid 16th century. Its sweeping roof is said to resemble a birds wings (?!)

The rest of the day we have been doing ‘sweet fa’ – well Wayne has, I’ve been writing up this blog! Off to Chiang Mai in the morning, so our next entry will be from Northern Thailand. Hope you’re all well…