Luang Prabang revisited.

Luang Prabang Revisited.

Back to Luang Prabang, familiar territory, and time to recover, get massages, visit museums and temples, swim relax, eat delicious food and shop for friends and family at home. 

At last a hotel in Laos with air conditioning, AND a pool. Such luxury.

 

Morning glory flowers drying for teas and other delicacies.

The food stalls in the plaza are a feast for the eyes and very easy on the pocket. 

Babies and small children are just a part of the picture with the market sellers. All much loved.

Little kids up late selling fruit by themselves makes me sad.

A loop walk up the popular Phousi Hill is a must for any tourist visiting Luang Prabang

First step pay 50,000 kip to buy a basket of birds (homing sparrows) to set free.

Great views of the town and the Mekong and the Nam Khan Rivers from the summit

The descent towards the Nam Khan river is equally lovely past all the weekday buddhist statues lined up along the path and a footprint of the Buddha as well. . 

Lovely views over the Nam Khan River

It's laundry day at the temple and the monks have been busy. 

Their accomodation looks simple but comfortable. 

It made me so sad to see this honey comb complete with larva, honey and bees all bagged up. 

Desiccated frogs

Rats

Eels

Mushrooms? Not. 

 

The market as usual is a haven for spices marinades and herbs as well as less savoury items like curry paste with buffalo hide and illegal sales of Goanna.

Our banana leaf wrapped fresh fish.

Our Laotian cooking class was great and we got to prepare stuffed lemon grass, larb, eggplant dip, salad, sticky rice, blackrice pudding and much much more.

Varieties of sticky rice

Dried  fish..

Another big market...not at all touristy this time.

We founbd ceramic fire pots for sale. Andrew would have loved to take one home.

Cat hairdresser, what next.

Yummy. Makes me scream

The UXO Visitor’s Centre in Luang Prabang

The area  in Laos that was bombed by the Americans is vast!

Did you know that Laos is the most heavily bombed nation, per capita, in history? Between 1964-1973, Laos was hit by an average of one B-52 bomb-load every eight minutes. The US dropped more bombs on Laos during this period than those dropped during WWII. A large percentage of the ‘bombies’ that rained down on this country remain in the earth – unexploded – continuing to cause a devastating impact, with casualties and injuries a regular occurrence. The UXO Visitor’s Centre in Luang Prabang offers you the chance to learn more about the Secret War. There are displays of real-life bombies, compelling survivor stories, as well as a viewing room where you can watch a documentary about the dangerous work being done to clean up the bombies.

Visiting the Palace Museum requires covering shoulders and knees for both men and women alike. Luckily they provide quality garments for hire. It was really interesting but oh so hot. Andrew loved the antique car collection stored in the rear of the grounds. 

Last most delicious dinner in town. with a daiquiri.

The night market Plaza a buzz with lights and diners.

Last breakfast at the morning market. Iced coffee and fresh fruit juice and pancakes. 

Chicken congee. yum.

Airconditioning in the pockets. There's a way to keep cool in this heat wave. 

Fabulous Laotian airlines...with propellers and wonderful service and views. 

Back to Bangkok to transfer and marvel over the cartoon like robotic cleaners cruising the terminal.

While we were waiting in the transit lounge looking out over the tarmac we noticed a Star Alliance plane, which had emergency landed en route from London to Singapore. 

It was surrounded by flashing lights, tents emergency chutes etc. and it was a while before we found out that the flight had been hit by highly unusual invisible turbulence while breakfast was being served, that someone had died, and may were injured, some critically. 

We were about to head into that storm ourselves.  

We kept our seatbelts on and landed safely in Adelaide, only to be met with a barrage of reporters wanting to hear the news of the flight difficulties, hot off the press...(plane)

A brief interview on camera with Channel 7 then a radio interview live on the ABC breakfast show to give them the outside observer's view. They all loved having a photo to use even if it was from an iPhone.

Then a zoom interview with channel 9 which was broadcast nationally.  

How embarrassing after 24 hours of no sleep. 

Luckily we were safely home and the kids and Camina pleased to see us back.