Luang Prabang, Laos
 

I'm just back from my trip to Thailand and Laos. I've been gradually posting info on parts of my trip, but I've saved posting on Laos for last. <BR><BR>Luang Prabang is the old cultural capitol of Laos. The Royal family lived there before they were sent away to re-education camps by the Pathet Lao in 1975. LP is a World Heritage city, little changed in the past 25-50 years. It is full of lovely wats and French colonial architecture.<BR><BR>LP is relatively small, and part of the delight is just walking around town, exploring side streets and temples. There is a recent surge in tourist infrastructure. One the main street, you'll see a series of internet cafes and places to eat serving pizza and such. Still, there is no building boom as there is in Siem Reap. We saw just one old building being renovated for lodging. Because the town is small, a large influx of tourism would change it irrepairably.<BR><BR>We stayed at the Phou Vao Pansea, a lovely hotel overlooking the town. (US$115 a night, including tax, service, breakfast and airport transfers.) It's not close enough to walk into town, but they have a shuttle that will drive you in any time. When we wanted to go back, we just caught a tuk-tuk for 5000 kip (less than US 50 cents). The hotel has beautiful, big rooms with rosewood floors and woodwork, lovely balconies overlooking the town, a beautiful swimming pool (the only one in town, I believe), and wonderful food.<BR><BR>We spent much of our time exploring the twon, but also went on a half-day boat trip on the Mekong to the Pac Ou caves, and a day trip by road to waterfalls, Hmong villages and a silk-weaving village.<BR><BR>You can now fly from Bangkok to LP daily on Bangkok Air. Visas are avialble on arrival at the airport (US$30).

I'm topping this message to go with the announcement of photos available of the trip at www.marlandc.com

Kathie,<BR><BR>Thanks for the post and the great new pictures. I enjoyed reading your advice and seeing your Cambodia pictures before my recent trip there. Also, thanks for posting the Heifer International website. It's a wonderful organization.<BR><BR>Welcome back!

Thanks, Malariagirl, I'm glad my information was helpful to you.<BR><BR>If you haven't been to Laos yet, I highly recommend it!

topping for Dick.

topping for JIm

Excuse my ignorance, but what does topping mean?

bringing it back to the front or top of the listings...as you did by posting

Kathie - did you enjoy the Mekong boat trip to the Pac Ou caves, and your other day trip (waterfalls, Hmong villages and a silk-weaving village)? Were they worthwhile? How expensive? And how did you arrange them? Ahead of time or when you got there? Thanks!
Karen

Yes, we very much enjoyed both trips. I think the trip to the Pak Ou caves was about US$14 for two of us with a boat to ourselves for the day. Our car and driver for the full day (waterfalls, silk weaving village, Hmong village, etc) was maybe US$10. We arranged everything once we got there. There is no reason to arrange ahead of time, and booking ahead on these types of day trips is always much more expensive.

kathie--- just to follow along the same path....did you make the car arrangements etc from the hotel??

i am in contact with villa santi...they are very pleasant...i am thinking of the resort rather than the in town hotel....is this a mistake and why?? other than you can not just walk out around the town...it appears that their pool is still not constructed?? this could be a negetive for us... saw a posting from dec 04 to that effect...

did you look at phou vao pansea? if so, do you think it is worth double the money??

karen is always interested in cotton fabrics (she makes jackets from it for her outer nursing uniform)...do you have a suggestion for an outlet for that??

also if you would tell me a little more about your lao purchases?? are there ratan or other grass household things like in bali??

as always thank you...

bob