Luang PraBANG, Laos
New Years Eve (Sunday, 31 December) Luang Prabang, Laos was a blast. We started out early drinking and playing cards on the balcony of our guest house. It was really, really fun. Then we headed up the street to the Hive bar where we saw many other travelers from our boat ride. To make a long story short we had a blast drinking, dancing, etc. Of course I ran into the 4 Canadians that I keep running into! Got home 'early' around 2 pm and was the first one back to the room. The rest of the group stayed out later. It was really fun sharing a room with such a good, fun group of people.
We all slept in on New Years Day (Monday, 1 January) of course, then went out for an afternoon breakfast. We had planned to take a taxi to some local waterfalls but by the time we were all ready to go, it was too late.... So we made plans to hit up the waterfalls the next day. That evening we all went out for Lao BBQ. It was the kind of place where you cook all your own food (lots of vegetables and 3 kinds of meat) over some coals at your table. It was good fun and delicious. And cheap; with drinks I think we paid $2.50 each. It was a late and long dinner so we all headed back to the hotel after we were through.
On Tuesday (2 January) morning we had made plans to meet our ride (hired taxi) at 11 am to go to the waterfalls. But there was some issues at our guesthouse and we had to switch to another one. About noon we were finally off. After about a 45 minute ride we arrived at Tat Kuang Si (Tat = waterfall). Before you reach the actual falls walking from the a parking there are two other attractions you pass. The first is an enclosure for orphaned and rescued Asiatic bears. Those are some amazing creatures and move around and climb trees like they were half monkey. Then there was another large enclosure for an orphaned and recused Asiatic (?) tiger. The tiger was amazing and actually a bit scary when growling. I've never been so close to one and all that seperated him from us was a chain link fence. Pretty cool. Finally we arrived at the falls. There were lots of fantastic falls and pools filled with amazingly blue water for swimming in. We hiked up to the top of the highest fall, then went for a swim at the lower pools. It was really beautiful there. Back in Luang Prabang we went to the night market for eating and shopping on our last night there. Got a tee shirt for $1.50. Met some other people for a drink later, then headed back to the guest house.
On Wednesday (3 January) morning part of the group split up. Nicole (the Aussie living in Bangkok) was heading south, while Ivo, Helen, Michal, Bat-Shahar, and I were heading to the northern Lao town of Nong Khiaw. Michal and Bat-Shahar were taking the cheaper transport option, the bus. While Ivo, Helen, and I were taking the more scenic (and more expensive) boat up the Nam Ou (river).
We all slept in on New Years Day (Monday, 1 January) of course, then went out for an afternoon breakfast. We had planned to take a taxi to some local waterfalls but by the time we were all ready to go, it was too late.... So we made plans to hit up the waterfalls the next day. That evening we all went out for Lao BBQ. It was the kind of place where you cook all your own food (lots of vegetables and 3 kinds of meat) over some coals at your table. It was good fun and delicious. And cheap; with drinks I think we paid $2.50 each. It was a late and long dinner so we all headed back to the hotel after we were through.
On Tuesday (2 January) morning we had made plans to meet our ride (hired taxi) at 11 am to go to the waterfalls. But there was some issues at our guesthouse and we had to switch to another one. About noon we were finally off. After about a 45 minute ride we arrived at Tat Kuang Si (Tat = waterfall). Before you reach the actual falls walking from the a parking there are two other attractions you pass. The first is an enclosure for orphaned and rescued Asiatic bears. Those are some amazing creatures and move around and climb trees like they were half monkey. Then there was another large enclosure for an orphaned and recused Asiatic (?) tiger. The tiger was amazing and actually a bit scary when growling. I've never been so close to one and all that seperated him from us was a chain link fence. Pretty cool. Finally we arrived at the falls. There were lots of fantastic falls and pools filled with amazingly blue water for swimming in. We hiked up to the top of the highest fall, then went for a swim at the lower pools. It was really beautiful there. Back in Luang Prabang we went to the night market for eating and shopping on our last night there. Got a tee shirt for $1.50. Met some other people for a drink later, then headed back to the guest house.
On Wednesday (3 January) morning part of the group split up. Nicole (the Aussie living in Bangkok) was heading south, while Ivo, Helen, Michal, Bat-Shahar, and I were heading to the northern Lao town of Nong Khiaw. Michal and Bat-Shahar were taking the cheaper transport option, the bus. While Ivo, Helen, and I were taking the more scenic (and more expensive) boat up the Nam Ou (river).
posted by Dustin at 4:52 AM
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