Day 1 in Luang Prabang

We arrived late afternoon and checked into Thong Bay Guest House which was beautiful (little huts in a peaceful riverside location). In the evening we explored the vast local night market and sampled local market food (which up until now we have been scared of eating but is actually rather tasty and no dodgy stomachs)!

Day 2 in Luang Prabang

We rose from our beds before sunrise about 5.45am to head down to the town to take part in giving Alms to the local monks, (Monks walk to the village in single file to collect donations of sticky rice or money off the locals).

Later that day we visited Asiatic bear sanctuary (an organisation set up to protect bears from the growing bile industry). We arrived just as they had hidden their food and we watched them search every nook and cranny. (very very cute)!

Kuang Si Waterfalls was our next stop and wow this was breathtaking! We swam in the very cold lagoon but well worth it!

Day 3 in Luang Prabang

Me and Kate took part in seperate day activities,

I went to a Silk farming center where i saw each process of how silk is made, from the worms to the cloth. I got to dye my own silk with natural dyes ie turmrick and lemon grass makes a yellow colour etc. I watched the local women weaving scarves for the on site shop and after a tasty lunch they taught me how to use the loom and i spent the afternoon weaving a piece of patterned cloth. This was such a good day for me.

I (Kate) spent the morning travelling in a tuc tuc to various local villages to see how traditional methods were used by the Laos people. We visited a blacksmith who was making knife blades from old OUX munitions left from the war, a silversmith, loa loa distilliary and a paper making organisation. I found this trip really worth while as we got to see the real way loa people live and what they have to do to earn a very basic living.

To end our time in Luang Prabang, Erin our Intrepid Group Leader organised a western BBQ in the gorgeous setting of our guest house. It was nice to have a bit of a change from rice and noodles and have chips and BBQ chicken mmmmm. The Loa Loa rice whisky came out again and we ended up in a local disco and we were the only western people in there. It was like a school disco but very funny and all the locals loved us!

Day 4 in Luang Prabang

Just before leaving, we had a tour of the Traditional Arts and Ethnology museum, this taught us about all the different cultures in Laos and all their traditional dress!

We left Luang Prabang for a flight to Vientiane.