Laos
Trip Start
Dec 25, 2008
1
9
141
Trip End
Dec 25, 2009
Where I stayed
Phousi Guesthouse
Luang Prabang, Lao Peoples Dem Rep
Sunday, April 19, 2009
( I am writing this several weeks after having left Laos so I am sure it is not as complete as it would have been writing at the time of travelling but I just don't seem to find the time to blog while I am travelling!!!!)
What a great place to to be after Vietnam. I am sure Luang Prabang is on everyone's favorite places to visit in Laos. I found this great little guesthouse on a side street close to the Mekong. Phousi Guesthouse, 29, Ban Choumkong, Luangprabang, tel 856-71212973 - e-mail: phousiguesthouseLPQ@hotmail.com) 25$ without breakfast. The main street is very touristy and has mainly restaurants but after travelling for a couple of months it is kind of nice to find several restaurants serving healthy western breakfasts!! This is where I had the best homemade dark raisin bread with plenty of jam!!!! Again, this comes as a real treat. Luang Prabang is pretty laid back and is a great place to slow down the pace and enjoy a nice boat trip to Pak Ou caves. The caves are filled with" Buddha images of all styles and sizes". The Lonely Planet also has a walking tour around Luang Prabang which is definitely worth doing. I also rented a bike and wondered off to the country side to visit villages. It seems that all the tourists were still having coffee on main street or off somewhere else as I was the only foreigner on any of the country roads and villages that I went to.
Ban Xang Khong and Ban Phanom were very interesting and I met several women weaving as well as others making paper (made from elephant-dung). Of course all were quite anxious to make a sale and were more than happy to show me all the beautiful textiles and the paper lanterns, cards and so on. I did find the silk products of much higher quality here than in Vietnam. All of these silk items, wood carvings and paper products can also be purchased at the night market which is really something to watch. Actually, the setting up and bringing down is what is amazing. Everyday the sellers have to bring their wears to the market, set up their tent with open walls and then bring it back down and carry everything back home with them. Also most of this is done on the back of a motorcycle. After having visited the rest of Laos I wish I would have spent more time in Luang Prabang as it is quite lovely and great to to just sit back appreciate and enjoy.
