Skip to main content

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....
Labels:
Location: Luang Prabang, ลาว

Comments

  1. Anonymous18 March 2012 at 20:52

    Nice one - who needs a lotto ticket! Have fun in Vietnam. All that we have heard has been positive.

    Love TJ and VJ

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My My Myanmar

I have been touched, pinched, squeezed and had my back rubbed as I was sick. Myanmar is one phenomenal place which I have so much hope for. Hope for democracy, hope for development and hope for conservation, all in a gradual process without losing its authenticity. I have felt safe, with my large amounts of cash (remember no ATM’s so budgeting became a real past time of all travellers not just the “budget” ones) and in pilgrimaging crowds, in villages and on rickety hill top roads, travelling solo or in a crowd. Not once did I fear for my personal safety or that of my belongings. I had to stop myself on the first day from being so travel weary and closed. I had to trust. I had to open up and Myanmar may well have taught me one of my greatest lessons on my Big Adventure. captive in Myanmar There were moments of democratic desire, like an aged village monk carrying a bamboo log who stopped me to ask “Do you know Aung San?” to which I replied quietly knowing it was a very c...
6 comments
Read more

Day 9 -12 Waitangi Forest to Helena Bay

I farewelled Original Sue who had joined me for the last night in Kerikeri and my host Victoria from the backpackers dropped me at the start of the Waitangi Forest to avoid a dangerous road walk.  The forest road was a hive of activity with trucks passing regularly in the first 4km.  Finally dipping off the active logging route to Te Puke Road the evidence of ancient Bush amongst falled pine felt like a very visual symbolism of Aotearoas botanical history. Right on the backblocks of New Zealands Treaty Grounds seemed all the more poignant. I reached Mt Bledisloe for lunch and the sweeping views across the Bay of Island. I also got to catch Original Jen who had gone off trail to deal with blisters and had a support crew ferrying her as needed.  The forestry road swept through Mountain Bike tracks passed the Waitangi Golf Course and finally the Treaty Grounds. Sadly they are all fenced off so my visions of a welcoming home to Waitangi were squashed. I took a brief rest is t...
4 comments
Read more

Day 16 - 23 Everyone needs good friends

The great Ocean Beach escape allowed me a day to rest while Teena worked, her daughter studied for exams and husband went on a free-dive course. I also had the pleasure of watching my trail friends come off the gnarly hike I had ahead of me. Feet up on the deck I waved them through. The Bach hospitality was wonderful. Relaxed and restorative.  The following morning Teena dropped me back to Oceans Beach with a day bag (hooray) to conquer the Bream Head Track. A beast I had been eyeing every step of Oceans beach two days prior. It was a slow exposed grassy ascent followed by a full on climb with ropes and frantic footing. So grateful not to have more weight on my back, to make these climbs simplified and sticks to steady the climb. I slipped on a tree root on a narrow section reminding me to concentrate. The views from the glimpses between the forest canopy stretched north to my yesterdays and south to my tomorrows long hike and Marsden Pt and Bream Bay. I was on the hunt for the los...
2 comments
Read more