Our last evening in Vang Vieng, we went again to one of the restaurants that are on the side of the river, and from which directly across you can see the bars that open in the evening...
The next morning we were leaving Vang Vieng for Luang Prabang, so Dudu and I were scuttling off to get some breakfast before boarding our bus... It was going to be a 9 hour ride... Scenery is stunning, but the roads are still in development so "twas a long and winding road"... Strolling along the street going to our favourite coffee shop ("Bon Cafe" if your ever in Vang Vieng) some coconuts started falling from the tree... Not an uncommon occurance, but still enough to be wary about... They do hurt if you're hit... Anyhoo, Dudu the smart one, moved into the middle of the street, I on the other hand figured that manouvering between two parked trucks was alot less hazardous than worrying about moving ones... Big mistake!!! One coconut got a little bit too close for comfort so to avoid being hit from above, (coconuts) and from in front or behind (cars and motorbikes) I headed to the only bit of mossy footpath there was in Vang Vieng, and ended up with legs akimbo on my side... Fortunately though a brick stopped the corner of my head so now I have a wee scar above my right eyebrow, to remind me of Vang Vieng... Had to talk my tour guide out of sending me to hospital for stitches, and in any event the nearest one was in Luang Prabang so not an option anyway... So how does the monkey thing fit in?? Dudu said that she saw a monkey in the coconut tree picking and throwing the damned things... I still think she's taking the mickey out of Monkey Island, but she has sworn black and blue that she saw one do it... so I will take her word at face value...
On route to Luang Prabang we stopped at a temple in the middle of nowhere... Stunning, the solitude, the peacefulness and isolation was just breathtaking... And before we headed down into Luang Prabang we stopped at this little lookout point, which has been developed (sort of) with hammocks, chairs, tables to picnic in and a wee and completely uneven pentanque field?? All of which overlooks Luang Prabang, which is nestled in a valley.. The province of Luang Prabang has a total population of 400,000 but there is only 60,000 based in the city... One of the highlights is the daily giving of alms to the monks who walk the streets so that it definately something to look forward to.... That night was only enough time for dinner and a brief stroll through the night markets before heading off to sleep... Orientation walk in the morning which given the size of the city isn't going to be too long... Yay... travelling takes it out of you, that plus the constant "Are you ok?, don't go to sleep now will you, Are you sure you don't want to go to hospital" can get a little bit tiring... Shoulders are sore, head a wee bit bloody and right side a little bit tender but nothing that can't be managed... Hate HAte HATe HATE being invalided so I'm fine!!
Oh, did I ever mention the two dutch guys we picked up in Vientiane?? The public bus had broken down, so the company put on a minibus for our group, but since it also doubled as a public bus, we had additional company with us.. Two young men from Amsterdam travelling for 6weeks... One is a scientist working for a company that develops genetically modified plants for enhanced crop production, the other is in marketing.. I did feel sorry for the scientist, he happened to be sitting between Dudu and I, and a fierce debate erupted over the issue of genetically modified food sources. They are obviously made of hardy stuff, because when we arrived in Vang Vieng they had nowhere to stay, so when the bus dropped us off at our accomodation they got off too and booked a room in the same guesthouse.... We thought we'd left them behind in Vang Vieng, but when we stopped for lunch on the way to Luang Prabang, guess who was there!!! They'd heard us talking about moving on, so decided they'd do the same... Good on them..
Guess who we ran into in Luang Prabang??? Yep the two flying dutchmen who threatened to join our day trip (see other blog) ... Thank goodness we were able to fill all available seats with the rest of our group..
Night market, Dudu decided she wanted a particular duvet cover... So sweet, the guy who was selling them was doing it on behalf of his mother, so every offer and counter offer was met with "hang on I just ring my mother", he'd hang up and so it would begin again... I think his strategy was to wear us down, and it worked... but Dudu has the most amazing silk duvet cover with detailed embroidery... but no pillow cases, although he offered to ring his mother and get her to make some for Dudu but given we were leaving at 7.30 the next morning and it's not called the "Night market" for nothing, so we'll have to see if we can match it at another market....
Tutu and Dudu :o)
I would really have wanted to be a monk, if only I were younger and if only I could acquire a taste for moles and grubs.
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