The drive here is stunning, Up through the mountains and is worth every cent I paid for it. I was told the busses were full and had to do some smooth talking to get on one. I was surprised when we left with 2 empty seats but I shouldn't have been cos a few minutes down the road we stopped to pick up 4 passengers. As usual the mini bus was overloaded and a cramped ride for a few but luckily for me I was in the back seat and we only had 3 of us so it was OK. As I said the views were stunning so the trip was good. When we got to LP a young Guy was flogging "his" hotel and had some pics. The price was right and the pics were OK so I agreed to check it out. Im staying in a river resort, with river views.Well some rooms have river views, mine down the back doesnt but it is OK. This morning the crickets woke me up early so maybe a resort is not all it is cracked up to be. They were still chucking water but thankfully it is the last day. We got soaked in the tuk tuk going to the hotel but the kids here seem to respect if I say no so I stayed dry yesterday arvo. I think every ute in the area was in town full of slutty young girls all trying to out dance each other and get the wetest. It was funny to watch.
This morning I went to see the monks Tak Bat or Alms procession. The monks do a lap of the city at dawn and the locals come out and give them some rice or something similar. It was funny to see cos they come in small groups and usually the one at the front is a fat ******* and the skinny runts at the back miss out when the people run out. A group of Japanese ******* showed up and made real ***** of themselves. They were getting up real close and poking huge lenses into the faces of the monks and standing in their way. They must have got the shot they wanted cos they left after about 15min.
After breaky I walked aroung and looked at the sights. The biggest is a huge hill in the center of town called Phu Si...the locals say p**** I walked all the way up those stairs but when you get to the top you cant get a photo of the stupa cos you are too close. At the bottom, on the other side, there was big action at another wat. Wat Siphoutthabat Thippharam was going off. There was some water ceremony going on where they pour water in a drain and get it out the other side. I went to check it out and while I was having a sticky beak one of the monks presented me with 2 wrist bands, well after I presneted him with 10,000kip. After that I walked along the water front to one of the biggest and most important wats here. Wat Xieng Thong was built in 1560 (when this place was the capitol of Laos) and houses the Pha Bang, a small buddha statue.
I had a great arvo. Watched the end of the V8 Supercars and had a couple of beers and watched the Ds flog the Gold coast with a nana nap in between. Life doesnt get better than that.
I'm staying here for another day cos I am gonna go to Mahoot school tomorrow. Out at one of the villages I can go and learn how to ride an elephant. Might be a handy skill when I get home.
Well I went to Mahoot school. It was not as prommised but I still had a great time. There were 5 of us and we went for a ride in the jungle then had lunch then went for a swim with the elephants. We all had a great time but the guide only took 2 photos of the swimming.
Tomorrow Im booked on the bus to Udomxai, the next day I will try to get to Muang Kuah then the day after to cross the border to Vietnam. I dont know if you will hear from me till I get to Vietnam. Udomxai should be OK but Muang Kuah only got onto the power grid last year so I dont suppose they have internet yet. You never know, they might.