Luang Prabang
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Slow boat from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai
Today I started a two day slow boat journey along the Mekong river from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai on the northern Thailand border. The journey started at 7.30 am when I was picked up from the hostel by a tuk tuk van. After picking up several other tourists we arrived at the slow boat pier just outside of the city. We boarded the local boat service for the first leg of the journey from Luang Prabang to Pak Bang. The boat route is very popular with tourists but is usually taken in the opposite direction taking the river down stream from Huay Xai as this is much faster. The…
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Huay Xai to Chiang Rai
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Luang Prabang Day 4
On my last day in Luang Prabang I went to the visit old Royal Palace in the centre of town. It seemed strange to me that a communist country would preserve reminders of the old monarchy and colonial rule which was abolished in 1975. I was not allowed to take photos inside of the palace which was built in 1904. It has a very simple interior compared to European palaces with many french influences and gifts from the US on display. The palace grounds also house Wat Ho Pha Bang which contains the sacred Pha Bang (a solid gold statue of the Buddha) from which the city gets its name.…
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Luang Prabang Day 2
I hired a motorbike to explore the countryside around Luang Prabang. The main attraction is Tat Kuang Si waterfall. It was a 40 minute drive from the city and I headed out early before the main tourist buses and vans arrive. The falls have many tiers cascading over limestone formations. The limestone had turned the water a beautiful turquoise blue. The falls were great with a high series of tumbling cascades. Within the national park is Kuang Si Rescue Centre where wild asiatic moon bears captured from poachers are rehabilitated. The bears were very cute and it is sad that they are poached for their bile which is used in…
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Luang Prabang Day 1
I woke refreshed having had a great nights sleep after the exhausting bus trip the day before. I went to visit the central market in town where the locals villages sell their produce. Alongside the fresh fruit and vegetables I was surprised to see various wild animal meat being sold openly both dead and alive. There were rodents of various kinds moving around in nets, skinned rats and squirrels, bats and wild birds. Many Lao people are unable to afford farmed meat and so are dependent on wild animals and insects as a major source of protein to supplement their rice diet. The impact of this on the environment was…
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Don Khon to Luang Prabang
Today I travelled from the very southern tip of Laos to the northern city of Luang Prabang. It was a long journey covering over 1200 km and taking 27 hours travelling by boat, two rickshaws, three minivans and a sleeper bus. The ticket only cost 360,000 Kip (£37) which was very good value. The journey started from Don Khon where I was picked up at 3.30 pm by a longboat to be taken to Nakasong. It was a perfect sunny afternoon for the boat ride. At Nakasong I transferred to a minivan for a 2 hour trip to Pakse. It was a smooth journey with a very careful driver. I…
