Day 21 - Relax @ Luang Prabang

Woke up about 9am and went out for a stroll along the river. Very relaxing and superb weather at this time of the year.

Also made a trip to the museum and library. Life is damn relaxed here. I would come here more often if not for the fact that luang prabang is so inaccessible.

Had to make a trip to the money changer to get more kips using the 'poor condition USD'. I became an instant millionaire again^^ After that I went back to the travel agency to book my trip to 'Kuang Si waterfall' said to be over 70m high. The cost is 50,000kips (US$6.25)

Rode out of town to get my petrol tank topped up and had fried noodles and pineapple shake for lunch for 20,000kips (US$2.50)

It's really funny sitting in a small mini van listening to 2 farangs (a lady and an old man) bragging their travel plans and experiences. It's so damn superficial. Guess that what happens when they depend on guidebooks.

When we arrived at the drop off point, we need to pay 20,000kips (US$2.50) for entrance fee and walk in for about 10 mins to reach the actual big waterfall. Along the way, there were numerous smaller waterfalls which are simply beautiful.

I met my friend again, the japanese girl. This is the 3rd time I bumped into her. Dinner was settled at the food stores at the drop of point of the waterfall. There are many small stores selling all kinds of snacks. I had half a BBQ chicken and a pineapple shake for 35,000kips (US$4.40) Many dogs gathered around me waiting to be fed while I was having the chicken.

Tonight I'm very happy because I finally managed to eat something that I have been wondering about for the past few days. I've seen street vendors selling them by the roadside but I don't know what the heck is it?!

It looks a a bunch of tiny unopened flowers. Upon a closer look, it looks like tiny bulbs of onions on flower stalks. I was told that the Laotian name for this is 'mak duei' and the way to eat this is to peel the rounded part of and eat it like a peanut.

It kinda taste like chick peas and is damn cheap at 1000 kips (US$0.125) per bunch.

Had beef noodles for supper as hunger was killing me. 18,000kips (US$2.25)

Expenses:

Hotel - US$8
Petrol - US$12
F&B - US$13.25
Entertainment -$8.75

Day 20 - Relax @ Luang Prabang

Woke up at 8am and made my way to the travel agency for reporting at 9am. Today I'm going on a half day paid tour to Pak Ou cave (Buddha cave)
Wonder how it's gonna be like?

From the travel agency, we had to walk about 5 minutes to the ferry pier where there were already about 40 people waiting, mostly farangs. I was assigned seat 26 on the slow boat. Kind of bored with the waiting already.

After boarding the slow boat, it was a boring cruise down the river for about an hour. The freaking cold again on the Mekong river and the sky is overcast. I hope it doesn't rain. The boat docked at some kinda mothership (a much bigger boat) for refueling.

The slow boat took a painful 2 hours to reach Pak Ou cave. We had to pay 20,000kips (US$2.50) for entrance fee.

There are 2 caves that we can visit. The lower cave was easily accessible from the boat pier but we were made to work hard and climb up a long flight of stairs to reach the upper cave. Inside the caves were said to be 4000 statues of Buddha in different shapes and form. Offered some joss sticks and candle for prayer and made a small donation of 5000kips (US$0.70)

Overall, I feel that this is a good experience but the 2 hour journey by boat is a little too much. We also stopped at a village that produces lao whisky. Nothing special here as the shops are all selling identical handicraft which I suspect is mass produced.

I was damn hungry on the return boat trip and I fell asleep while on the way back. Kinda feel sick from the cold and hot weather and the lao whisky and rice wine that I tasted.

Had a good but costly lunch of fish and chips at the 'luang prabang restaurant. Including 2 cokes, it cost me 71,000kips (US$9) Damn expensive. After lunch it's time to
hide in my room to sleep as I'm
feeling the weather already.

Ok bad news. It seems I'm having a bad stomach. Must be all the nonsense I've been eating and drinking. I feel so much better after self medication and a good rest.

Met up with some new found friends for dinner. They consist of a japanese girl, a thai girl, a German guy and an Australian couple. Had Lao cuisine for dinner and shared the bill. We paid 47,000kips each (US$6)

After dinner, we went to the night bazaar and further to that, I brought them to the 'Lao Fa disco' where we had fun. Drinks came up to about 50,000kips each (US$6.25).

Great night and good company. Went back to the guesthouse at about 1am. Luckily the guard was waiting for me to return as I had informed him earlier.

Expenses:

Hotel - US$8
F&B - US$16
Entertainment - US$9.50