The last day in Luang Prabang was spent seeing some of the temples, "Wats". We also got up extremely early to see the Monks procession, where locals and tourists if they want, give offerings to the various troops of Monks. Some people in Laos join the Monks for a year or more for a good education, similar to Military service in Germany, but no guns just mediation. Our minibus ride to Vang Vieng was 2 and a half hours longer than advertised due to the f...

The slow boat along the Mekong finishes in Luang Prabang, Laos' second biggest city and feels like a small town. We had planned to stay only 2 nights but the place is really nice so we're staying a bit longer. It has a real French vibe left over from their occupation, lots of beautiful temples, some up and coming bars/cafes and the best market we've seen. We met a few nice people on the boat so teamed up yesterday and did a few activities. We went to a beautifu...

Kim and I are lying on a bamboo floor, suspended over a pig sty, in a tribal village, home to the Akha people. Girls from the village enter our "lodge" and select their subject. We undergo 30 minutes of a groping type of massage on our backs, buttocks, and legs……..what a surreal experience and needless to say we were trying not to giggle for the majority of the time. Laos is one of the poorest countries in South East Asia; it is landlocked and is ...