Moving days are always fraught with uncertainty, but you'd think after six months we'd be used to it. For today's journey we'd made the decision to just book the onward transport through our hotel. Their tuk tuk trip was 20% less than the market rate so we assumed their long journeys would be equally competitive. On approaching the receptionist we were told everything would be fine, she had written it down, and No, we didn't need a ticket. Departure day duly arri...

Luang Prabang is a pretty town. Listed by Unesco for its sympathetic development of character housing it's dominated by French influence. Baguettes and wooden shutters abound, and the towns narrow lanes add character to the older area of the town. There is an added charm as both the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers run through, complete with their bamboo bridges and children playing in the water in mid afternoon. The town teems with travellers young and old, some staying...