My eBid Cap Trip to Laos & Cambodia!

[deanosaur1972]

That brings back memories....

I drifted down the Mekong from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang on a slow boat many years ago, journey took 2 days and was fabulous.

Mind you the authorities in Luang Prabang did threaten to deport me for breaching communist regulations.

Great country - they will have a blast.

[meebo1]

Dare I ask what regulations they were?

[deanosaur1972]

In 1998, as a foreigner, by law you had to be signed in to every town you visit by the police - you were given paperwork to do so on entering the country. It was just typical communist procedure so they could track your movements - as I didn't really want them to know where I was going then the paperwork was blank. They were a bit sensitive that there were areas in the north which were largely under the control of bandits (their words) and that I may have spent time in those areas.

[Oldandintheway]

I think I spotted some towel origami on the bed. Only posh hotels have that, surely. They both look happy, so maybe the stress has already been forgotten.

You are correct there, & bro calls it towel torture!
Their room ATM is costing the princely sum of $A24.00 per night.

[Oldandintheway]

That brings back memories....

I drifted down the Mekong from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang on a slow boat many years ago, journey took 2 days and was fabulous.

Mind you the authorities in Luang Prabang did threaten to deport me for breaching communist regulations.

Great country - they will have a blast.

Seems like things have changed a lot since those days Deano, at least, Bro & Sil are not having any probs like that ATM?
I believe the Marxist-leninist state system have come to accept the value of our filthy capitalist $'s.

[Oldandintheway]

Luang Prabang Night Market

With a large number of traders & what looks like a mixture of colourful local hand crafts & mass produced imported Chinese goods, mostly repeated to a large degree among the vendors. However, the food is A1 according to Bro & Sil.

[suesjools]

Wow, gorgeous and so colorful! What an amazing place, thanks for sharing the pix and the travel info., may have to add this to my must see places list when I win the lottery.

Good thing I'm not there, I'd have to buy all the earrings.

Best wishes for many sales to all,

[Oldandintheway]

The Morning Market & a 4 Hour Stroll

Leaving their hotel for the morning market, our heroes decided to take a quiet stroll down the nearest thoroughfare!
Four hours later - they finally managed to find the hotel again. Anyhow, a couple of Beerlao's later (apparently one was for me) they now have the lay of the land. I'm wondering if there exists Rumlao???
I'm told that the market breakfast consisted of very nice French style baguettes, bacon, egg, greenery, mayo & a large cup of Lao coffee. Said coffee is OK, but not a patch on the Vietnamese equivalent says bro!

Note: our eBid cap makes its first appearance at the market - Yeah!

Sil tucks in with gusto

More vendors stalls

Some of the crowd shopping

The That Chomsi Stupa

Trust Bro to find motor bikes

Here we find the rare porcelain tree in full fruit (note the catching umbrellas to avoid breakages)

Got ya! They're only wind chimes after all.

Another street cafe

Street art


More continued next post.

[Oldandintheway]

Morning market Stroll continued.

Like Bro, this tree needs a shave

Rickety bamboo bridge over the Nam Khan River

Overlooking the Nam Khan

Getting back to nature or lurking in the bushes?

Sil outside the Royal Palace Museum (more on this later)

Inside the Souvannapoumaram Wat (Buddhist Temple)

Ditto

A message outside from the Buddha

Watch out - it's behind you! - arrrahhh!

Some street architecture

[meebo1]

Well, those markets would bankrupt me. Only the luggage allowance on the flight would stop me