Luang Prabang Where Chang Mai was relaxed Luang Prabang is positively laid back. The former French colonial capital on the bank of the Mekong is a beautiful, restful city. It's French colonial architecture is quite distinct in this part of the world. The French influence still lingers with many cafes and patisseries to tempt the weary traveler in off the hot street. However, with so much to see and do here our two days were to be pretty full on. We started off ...

I'm writing to you today from our slowboat sailing down the Mekong river. Crossing the border into Laos was an adventure in itself. We had risen at 6:30 in order to be first in the queue. However, lots of other tour groups had the same idea. It was about half an hour waiting in the sun before we completed the exit checks from Thailand. At one point a group of Chinese nationals made a break for the front of the queue but big Frank and I growled loudly at them and...