We catch a slow-boat in Nong Khiaw for a six-hour journey down the Nam Ou River to the city of Luang Prabang.
We’re both really looking forward to this ride – mainly because the scenery is supposed to be stunning, but also because it’ll be a ride in something other than a bus. And we’re not disappointed the scenery is absolutely amazing and quite diverse – from running rapids and rocky shores to shear limestone cliff and rolling green hills. The photo opportunities are endless.
Of course, after about 2 hours of sitting in a loud, cramped boat, we’re wondering if there is somewhere we can be dropped off to catch a bus.
Oh woes us – such a hard life we live!
We arrive in Luang Prabang late in the afternoon and begin the search, once again, for somewhere to stay.
This time it proves to be more difficult than usual. The city is quite busy and prices have gone up considerably since I was last there. Remembering the area where I had stayed last time, we head in that direction and eventually find a great place with a hot water shower!!
In the evening we go out for our usual stroll to explore and begin to understand the new place we are in. Compared to the small towns and villages we’ve been in the last few days, Luang Prabang is a booming metropolis – stores, stalls, fancy hotels, shi-shi coffee shops! Actually, L.P. is a very pretty place along the river, with a strong French influence in its architecture – it’s become quite the tourist mecca in Laos, but it still maintains a small-town feel.
In the midst of searching for dinner and momentarily stopping to buy some sausage-on-a-stick as an appetizer, who do we see but our friends Michael and Stephanie from Germany. So we hook up with them to grab dinner on the food street. The food street is literally a street lined with outdoor food stalls selling everything from fried vegetables to fish on a stick, so it’s easy to find something that suits your appetite.
When dinner is complete, we stroll through the night craft market and eventually end up at a bar for drinks. We spend the rest of the evening catching up and arranging a trip to a local waterfall the next day.
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