It's been an action packed week with three days at the Sutera Harbour hotel on British Council business i.e mid-year review. It was Andrew's turn to be my groupie at a 5 star hotel and he wrote reports while I sat in air conditioned rooms talking about ??? We did, however have a couple of fun social evenings including a pub quiz, musical chairs and beer drinking races and some dancing so it was nice for Andrew to meet some of my colleagues - we even were invited to Lilush's first birthday party by the pool on Friday afternoon. We flew off to Kuala Lumpur together spent the night in the airport and then I was on the early morning flight to Laos, while Andrew had to hang around until 6 pm for his flight to Mongolia via Hong Kong. Anyway off I went totally unprepared and not having read or booked a thing about my holiday. I had a few minutes panic when I saw that they asked for the number of our visa on our arrival form. Visa? Oh dear - I thought we could get it in Laos but never thought to check. Fortunately luck was with me and apart from having to get some local money outside I was able to get the visa. This is a warning to anyone who thinks I'm an experienced traveller - don't follow my advice. I am always winging it and don't know what I'm doing but it nearly always works out ok ??!
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| Vientiane |
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| Buddhist monks in Luang Prabang |
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| Normandie?? |
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| A dream house overlooking the Mekong |
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| weighing live pigs at the river |
Anyway so far so good. I shared a taxi with a lovely British couple from the airport and I found a cheap backpackers which only had me staying in the dorm - perfect! I had a wander round Vientiane which is nothing special except lots of nice craft shops and restaurants. The french influence (les baguettes, du vin, les croissants etc..) is very evident as well as hearing french being spoken. I visited the night market, met up with Clare and Di, had a beer and fortunately was able to charge up my computer with their adaptor and complete my assignment due on Sunday (yes another thing I have been procrastinating about)
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| A Primary school waiting for an English teacher?? |
I had an early morning rise to catch the 10 hour bus ride to Luang Prabang - supposedly the jewel of South East Asia - but I had yet to find out. The bus driver for once drove very safely and the climb through the mountains was stunning and beautiful although a little hazy during the dry season. We arrived at 6 ish and then wandered around trying to find somewhere to stay. I found somewhere that was fine and in the right price range for the night and went off to the night market to explore. I have always suffered from an illness known as fabricitis which I believe is genetic (maternal side) and this is a place where it is tested to it's limits. The fabric is beautiful and is either hand cross stitched as a border or hand spun in silk or cotton and the myriad of colours is breathtaking. This is going to be a place where it is very difficult to resist and what is even more lovely is that all the local people are wearing their "sarongs" including the children as their school uniform.
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Early morning market
This morning I woke up feeling coolish which I wasn't expecting and went off to the local vegetable market to have a wander and basically that it what I have done today - wander. I can officially confirm now that I too would award this place the jewel of South East Asia award and I wish I could find the words to describe it - Simon where are you?? It is of course a UNESCO heritage site and the charm of it is that it is unchanged and the architecture which to me reminds me of Normandy is very French with a colonial feel to it. I have moved to a "colonial" guest house that overlooks the Mekong river and the shutters, doors and even the colour of paint remind me of France - not to mention the number of French around! Anyway I perhaps will be able to conjure up the ambience another day but a sunset cocktail by the Mekong river is calling. Tomorrow is my birthday and I have booked a 2 day trip trekking, kayaking, elephant riding and sleeping in a village of one of the hill tribes. If this blog does not continue, you will know that things didn't go so well but I'm hoping I will have lots to tell...... |
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