Up at 5 this morning in Luang Prabang to walk down the street to participate in the monks gathering alms parade
At 6am monks from all the temples walk through the streets and people give them food - we gave a small portion of sticky rice to about 20 monks
Great breakfast at a local cafe then on a minibus for the 8 hour scenic, rough and mountainous drive to Van Vieng
Well we all know Thailand is a great country with stunning scenery but Laos is something else. This drive through the mountains in Northern Laos has to be one of the most consistently spectacular we have ever been on. It just never stops the greenery, limestone ridges etc etc with hill tribe village communities living along the road since they have relocated from the more remote mountain tops due to government infrastructure development for them along the road
Just amaaaazing!
Arrived in Van Vieng about 5pm which is on the river bank and is a mini Luang Prabang. This is where tourists (backpackers mainly) used to get drunk then go tubing down the river getting drunker as they stopped at riverside bars along the way. The Lao govt tried to outlaw it but didn't work although it is less of a grog fest these days
Tried to have dinner at a great local Pizza bar at 7.30pm but he didn't make enough dough earlier in the day for 10 people because he thought it would be a quiet night - so booked in for tomorrow night
Lao food instead overlooking the river to finish the day on a good note