4th February - Laos Peoples Democratic Republic!

We have now been installed in Luang Prabang, Laos for 3 days....it all kinda started one afternoon in Chiang Mai when the pollution had just gone to Ians head and he said "lets go to Laos tomorrow". Well it all pretty simple reserved flight on internet that evening (although strangely you couldnt pay online but that was ok)....or was it?
Next day up early and discovered my Leatherman knife was missing (and also a few other bizarre things like vitamins from the side pocket of my rucksack). We then deduced that they probably went AWOL when my luggage got diverted and had a trip half way round the country. So after feeling pretty miffed - we decided that it wasnt so bad as we had insurance. So it was on the third police station that we managed to track down the english version of the claim form. Then despite the slowest tuk tuk in the world we made the airport in the nick of time...only to find that the person on airline duty wanted twice the fare advertised in cash only - sounds sus...but apparently there is a separate fare for foreigners! Sometimes like it or not you just got to go with it.

As for Luang Prabang - its a beautiful mountain kingdom filled with 32 temples protected by UNESCO at the confluence of the Meekong and "another" river. The best bits are the temples, street markets, french food (Ians croissants), the French colonial buildings, the riverside restaurants and our guesthouse with its veranda and v comfy beds (rare commodity at back packer prices) - ok living it up back packer prices... So all in all are enjoying ourselves.
Its also worth noting that in coming to Luang Prabang you probably havent reached "the undiscovered land" as actually there are loads of tourists here - I guess it feels more concentrated as tourists only go to a few places in Laos.

Love Karen and Ian