March '06 Journey III : Laos Day 3

Laos Trip : Day 3 (15 Mar 06)

Now, we are already in the middle of the Laos series. I will try to finish my March'06 Journey as soon as possible. Let's move back to the story of Laos. The gang & I had to leave the city of nature, Vangviang. We woke up early like yesterday to touch the Vangviang last morning and then packed all stuff to be ready for a long way to a world heritage city of Luangprabang.

We had breakfast at the resort during waiting the van picking us here.
Today, I changed the breakfast from the-always-ordered Pho to Porridge with chicken.
Saying GOODBYE to Thavornsuk resort at 9.10am.
Thank you to the owner Uncle&Aunt for your very warm hosting.

The way to Luangprabang just began....
(I had a stomach-ache due to too-good last dinner while sitting besides the driver...)

So many sharp curves along the way from Vangviang to Luangphrabang.

After about 4 hours, we took a rest to go to the nature toilet and stretched our arms and legs.

We eventually reached the ancient capital of Laos around 14.30 (5h30min). During walking to find the guesthouse to stay for the first night, we were accidentally stopped by the vehicles procession of the Cambodian King. What a luckiness of us!!

We walked around for a while and finally decided to stay at Phu See 3 guesthouse (เฮือนพักพูสี 3)which is quite closed to the spot where the monk walk through to beg for food บิณฑบาต in the morning and also located just behind the Buddhist temple.

This is a very stylish cafe in the classis Luangprabang, but so expensive. Just next to Phu See 1 guesthouse.

Another classic but repainted building in this city.

After finishing all guesthouse thing, we decided to have some food and drinks because of very small lunch in the van. We escaped from above cafe to another one and bought this local food to eat with...... don't know the name but another damn good one. คล้ายๆก๋วยเตี๋ยวหลอด ราดน้ำหวานๆ อร่อยมาก

After adding some energies, we climbed up to the Phu See hill and temple.

...Wat Pra That Phu See...

Lots of tourists especially Japanese waiting for the sunset at the top of Phu See.

This is the picture that all people waiting for.

Trip members picture at the top of Phu See.

Another nice and classic cafe and restaurant in the city.

After absorbing the sunset view, we walked through Talad Muud ตลาดมืด แต่ไม่เถื่อน เป็นถนนคนเดิน ขายของแบกะดิน , a walking shopping street selling lots of handicrafts, silk clothes and lost of souvenirs. We spent more than an hour to pass thorugh this short shopping street and unconciously bought some souvenirs, eventhough we already talked one another that we would just look and ask for the price only, then would buy them tomorrow.

After getting so tired with the price negotiation, we had so hungry and looked around food street stall. Then, stopped at the vegetarian stall ร้านมังสวิรัติ. The all-you-can-put-in-your-plate of vegetarian food was my worst meal in this trip. (.... These are for western tourists only, I think....)

However, at this vegetarian stall, we met a very nice local girl working as a part-time job there. She was so talkative and very friendly. We had quite long conversation and before we left the stall, she offered us to bring sticky rice for offering the food for the monk tomorrow morning because it will be cheaper. Besides, she volunteered to take us around the city by bicycle to see UNSEEN-Laos in the afternoon as welll. What another luckiness of us!!!! Her name calls Khao น้องขาว, a high school student in Laungprabang.