My week as a Millionare

ok so being a millionare in Laos is not really difficult at 12,000 to the Pound I was off to a flying start to my anniversary week.

Bamboo jetties on the Mekong

I took a room along the Mekong River in the cultural city of Luang Prabang in Laos. I had been recommended to come here by travelling friends in Myanmar and I couldn't agree more this is the place in Asia you can come to chill out. Essentially I have eaten and drunk my way around the town. I have used the internet (although still using Gmail in html) and enjoyed using my tube of vegemite on my morning baguettes. My stomoch has expanded with all the foreign wheat I am now enjoying and all the lovely banana cakes I have been enthralled by.

I went to a waterfall to see some blue water and stumbled on some bears - seriously stumbled. It was rather a delightful find. I couldn't take a picture to do it justice but It was delightful. I also went to some caves which were terribly dull after the cave experiences in Myanmar - the Buddhas here were fit for a home altar not really like the massive ones I saw in Kalaw. Alas the locals love them and we must respect local treasures. It was nice to take the boat to the caves though up the Mekong and to experience life in the villages.

Sleeping Bears in Luang Prabang

I spent the last few days sitting at a loom weaving a silk scarf overlooking the river. It was a lovely experience and sharing the first morning with Florence of Florence & the Machines cousin was all the more surreal. I can't wait to be able to hang up my scarf when I get home to show for my week of relaxation.

Weaving scarves was therapeutic 

I didn't take any pics of monks collecting alms as I find this repulsive as a tourist attraction which is common place here...would you poke a camera in a priests face while he prayed on the palpit of a church or in a parishioners when they asked for donations? No of course not, so why is it suddenly ok in Asia? 

But like any holiday it must end and now I am working the life of luxury with an hour flight to Vietnam (to save on the 26 hour bus ride) where I have heard the place is beautiful and the people are horrid....sounds like a great warm up to India....