Luang Prabang and surroundings

We traveled from Kuala Lumpur to Luang Prabang in Laos by a three-hour flight. Everything here is much smaller than in Kuala Lumpur and quieter than in Sri Lanka. The city is very pleasant and has a great atmosphere. We really like it here.

After the first night, we went on a guided tour with a guide and two other travelers into the hills. First, we visited two villages - a Khmu village and a Hmong village. It was interesting to see how these people live here today and earn a living through agriculture. After the nice encounters, we hiked about 9 kilometers with the guide through the jungle until we reached the Kuangsi Waterfall. It was quite a challenging trek - uphill and downhill through muddy forests and scorching hot fields. The refreshment at the swimming pools by the waterfall was the well-deserved reward for the effort.

We satisfied our hunger in the evening at the nightly Night Market. Besides the many souvenir stands, there is also a food street here with delicious-smelling food that we dared to try. It was absolutely delicious!

After the exhausting previous day, we took it easy today. We explored the surrounding area on a scooter and visited some temples, as well as crossed the Bamboo Bridges over the Nam Khan River. Crossing the side river of the Mekong was a wobbly affair that is not even possible during the rainy season.

Tomorrow we will go to the Sayaboury Elephant Conservation Center, where we will stay for two days before returning to Luang Prabang. And on Friday night, Switzerland is playing and I (Mathias) need a TV :)