ENCHANTING LOUANG PHABANG LIES TEN HOURS BY BUS NORTH OF VIENTIANE. IT HAS THE ATMOSPHERE OF A LOST CITY: ROYAL PALACE AND STRIKING TEMPLES DOMINATE THE MAIN STREET. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A STRATEGIC REGION FOR TRADE, DUE IN PART, TO THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF CHINA, THAILAND, VIETNAM AND MYANMAR (FORMERLY BURMA). THE MIGHTY MEKONG RIVER RUNS THROUGH THIS TOWN HAVING MADE ITS WAY DOWN FROM CHINA WHILE ON ITS WAY SOUTH TO CAMBODIA AND VIETNAM. THIS HAS MADE THE FORMER CAPITAL AND KING'S RESIDENCE HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT AND THE SITE OF MANY CONFLICTS. THE FRENCH CAME IN 1867 TO MAKE SURE THAT BRITISH COLONIAL RULE WOULD NOT AND STAYED FOR FIFTY YEARS. THE FRENCH INFLUENCE IS STRONG, PERHAPS MOST BENEFICIAL IN THE ARCHITECTURE AND THE ABUNDANT CAFES AND SPLENDID RESTAURANTS. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A WEEK NOW AND WILL DEFINITELY HAVE TO LEAVE TOMORROW MORNING HAS I BOOKED MYSELF A SNEAKY WEE FLIGHT TO VIETNAM FROM VIENTIANE TO SAVE MYSELF THREE DAYS OF LONG ARDUOUS BUS JOURNEYS SOUTH AND ACROSS THE LAOS/VIETNAM BOARDER. THE BEST SORT OF ADVENTURERS COME TO LOUANG PHABANG. I HAVE HAD A MAGICAL TIME MAKING FRIENDS.