LUANG PRABANG

Have been here about 6 days now as I come to type this and the fact that I've not really been arsed to update the blog is probably testiment enough to the fact that this place is awesome!
After Bangkok and Chiang Mai being the busy places they are it's also been great to get somewhere where the pace of life is a lot slower, people friendlier to the extent that you don't just represent a walking wallet - even the street vendors selling the same old dodgy beads and necklaces are polite!

The place itself is right on the bank of the Mekong, between Namkhan river so everywhere you look is great scenery. The large hilltop that sits in between also means you can get a great view of it all happening from above as well - loads of steps (especially after a late night) but well worth it.

There's still temples everywhere, although trendy little bookshops, boutique type places and bars probably outbumber them now, although it all seems to have been done without feeling or looking touristy or

in a 'Bangkok'stylee.....easy to see why people stay here for longer than they originally planned.

What's also been good about this palce is that you can just chill and read a book eating the great food (big thanks to the French for getting the bakeries and baguettes over here - good work!) and watch it all go by, or you can wait til it gets dark and go massive on the beer Lao!

Because of the group I'd been travelling with have been here most of the time it's been more the latter than the former - although it's Christmas time so that kind of makes it justifiable!
As per the previous post, photos will follow as soon as I can find somewhere that doesn't have it's internet connection powered by a hamster running a wheel, just so you can see what I'm on about.

Have booked myself onto a semi hardcore trek for the next couple of days (50KM cycle, 6 hour kayaking) so after that will head south to Vang Vieng next to party it up for new years there. Hopefully all the excercise should balance out some of the abuse of the last few days leaving me party it up again guilt free!

Until then....be good everyone, hope the Christmas break is as good for you as it has been for me so far!