50 something on her travels

Today we caught the train to Vang Vieng.  This is the view at the front of the massive station.  When you arrive your ticket and passport are checked before you go through security.  As we thought they identified 'hazardous' objects and indicated they had to confiscate my travel hairspray and dry shampoo. Which was fine as they left the other hairspray, nail varnish/remover and nail scissors in the bag 😁 The station itself has nothing in it apart from toilets, a VIP 1st class lounge and drinking water. Note the drinking water is hot so only good if you are making noodles. There are no shops or restaurants at all.  We had to stay in the waiting room until we were called to file out onto the platform, standing behind the line.  The train rolled in (check Facebook for video) and as is the case everywhere in the world the queue disappeared and everyone bundled on.  The hour train ride was comfortable and quiet. There was som...

Another tourist attraction is seeing the sunset at the top of Phousi Hill. Yes it is a steep hill and I'm not a spring chicken. However I was not huffing and puffing like the 20 year olds who were wheezing from the general lack of exercise as they crawled up the hill 😂 When we got to the top it was packed with people doing their famous Instagram selfies 🙄  So we took our shots and got back down the hill before the crowds descended.

One of the big attractions of Luang Prabang is the Alms Giving Ceremony at sunrise in the main street of the city. I was very fortunate to see this a few years ago on a visit and really enjoyed watching.  However it has become an unpleasant tourist circus. We understand it is packed with tourists that pile out of minivans at sunrise. Some tourists have no respect or appreciation of the Buddhist religion. They are more interested in taking selfies with alarmed monks or using flash photography to get that winning Instagram shot with complete disregard of their surroundings and how the locals feel.  So you won't see any photos from me, I  will be staying in bed. #givingalms #Luangprabang #tourism

We saw this car parked at Kuang Si Waterfalls. Pink and glittery - how awful! 

This afternoon we visited Kuang Si Waterfalls which is about 25km outside Luang Prabang.  More picturesque than Erawan in Thailand, but not so easy to swim in. Highly recommended to visit and get there early to avoid the crowds.  We snapped a stunning Porcelain Rose flower which I have never seen before.

After a delicious hotel breakfast we took a slow walk down to the Mekong River. We first crossed as a pedestrian over the road bridge. George thought it looked like an army Bailey bridge. Let's say the walk over was interesting - moving planks (new, old and damaged) and loose screws holding them in place 😱 We walked about fifteen minutes along the river and crossed back the other way using the Bamboo bridge. This is built during the dry season and foreigners are charged 50p to cross. It actually felt much safer than the road bridge! In the rainy season the bamboo bridge is swept away by the rising river. We remain  impressed by the stunning views over the Mekong and mountains.  After a morning's walk we returned to the pool for an afternoon relax.  We are getting into the Luang Prabang chilled out mood ☺️ #Luang Prabang #Laos #Mekong

Ten years after I left my teaching job in Laos I've returned for a visit. And it's lovely to be back. We took the short 1.5 hour flight from Bangkok this afternoon and arrived in the cooler climate of Luang Prabang. We are staying at Le Sen Boutique Hotel which is a short walk into the centre of town. Tonight was about eating as we were starving. Exploring can wait until tomorrow. Its the first time I've worn a hoodie since I boarded the Heathrow plane on 15 March. But its still not that cold! #laos #luangprabang #asia