Up early and off to Luang Prapang ( a world heritage city) in a minivan. A 7hr bumpy journey through mountains and dusty remote villages, what a spectacular sight. After a somewhat hair raising ride through a million hairpins, past land slides and breakdowns with a billion pot holes with several pee stops for the driver and one or two for us we got to the top of the world for lunch. Lunch here you might think has little choice but check out the menu very closely. The options are very strange but who are we to say not tasty. Anyway we never tried the house speciality and after a very tasty lunch stop we arrive rather bedraggled.

Vanvisa Guest House where we are staying is the home of a Laos lady who opens it up to guests. What an eye opener! it is like a treasure trove of dusty antiques, hill tribe cloths and so many mini kitchens and odd places to sit. There is a lovely very old lady that sits in a chair all day counting money and having her meals. We say 'sabidee' hello and bow ( the Lao way to greet) every time we pass her and in return she gives us a smile.


We head straight into town for a mooch. Loads of lovely colonial cafes, restaurants, guesthouses and hotels as well as very stylish Asian boutique type shops . The temples or Wats that the city is famous for look beautiful as the sun sets. We eat some Lao fish steamed in lemon grass and herbs with slightly steamed cauliflower, green beans and broccoli (how western) but so delicious. We finish off the meal with the best hot sticky coconut rice and mango we've ever tasted.
The weather is really rather cold at night and in the morning so much so that we have worn fleeces and trousers - so much for a holiday in the sun. As we only brought 1 fleece each we are beginning to wonder if the locals think we are a bit dirty wearing the same stuff.