Laos - Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is the 2nd biggest city in Laos. Although its not really a city... any 'city' like building are really built around tourists. Infact, on the main road, I could hardly tell I was in Laos.
Off the main road though are hundreds of temples. One for every corner of every road. And with temples come monks, making Luang Prabang a very colourful city. Overall I really liked it because of its diversity and the friendly people. Just walking down the road everyone say 'Sabaidee' (hello), and not just because they're trying to sell you something!

We spent a bit of time in LPB because we had heard that the tubing in Vang Vieng (the whole reason you go there) had shut because someone had died. To be honest, I'm not suprised, the rivers were raging! I wouldn't have wanted to swim in one. The day we arrived 2 kayakers had also gone missing. It seemed as though the wet season had come to Laos a but earlier and a but harsher than usual and tourists who thought they could beat nature we're drowning. So, we pretty much stayed away from the tubing.

Chilling out in LPB for 5 days was great though, there is great food, good people, shopping, markets and LOADS of places to get a massage.

We did do 2 tours though. The first one was to a waterfall, which was nice and refreshing considering we were a little tired and hungover. Because of the rain the waterfall was pretty spectacular and you could actually trek through it and right to the top. Thank goodness for my waterproof camera!! I had a few comments on my new tattoo at the time which was nice :)
The 2nd tour was to Pak Ou caves, which is a temple built into a cave about 25kms along the river from LPB. I think we probably had the worlds worst boat driver, for some reason he got distacted along the way and the boat veered off to the side and crashed into another boat. Our driver went fully clothed overboard! It was actually pretty amusing. We drove off leaving the owner of the other boat looking pretty cross. It took a while to get to the caves and they were OK. Probably wouldn't go there again but glad I did while I was around.

For our last night in LPB we walked to the top of a mountain to watch sunset, and as it was recommended in the lonely planet the top of the mountain was filled with travellers. At dinner we ended up sitting with a Laos girl and her friend, and an old German guy. It was an interesting night... they took us to a Laos nightclub and when we walked in it was like any nighclub except there were people line dancing! What?! Anyway that was heaps of fun until it was curfew time (LPB has a 12pm curfew) and we figured we better not piss off our lovely guesthouse owners so we went home. Although it was still a bit late and our GH owner came out in his tighty whiteys to let us in! eeek.