Luang Prabang (apart from being shopping heaven) is a world heritage site so it's well kept and clean, even the potholes in the roads are artful. Smokers are publicly frowned upon with a 'tut' and everyone is in bed by 10.30 p.m. But now that we're getting on a bit, and having to get up at 7 a.m. most mornings (which we are soooo unused to), going to bed before 11 seems almost hedonistic. We are so enchanted by the place we have spent most of our time just wa...

Left Bangkok on the overnight train, wasn't quite as glamourous as we anticipated, in fact rather hot and sticky. Nevertheless I slept for about 10 hours, even though they left all the lights on all night - my free little eye mask from British Airways did a stunning job of making it seem like night until about 9 a.m. when someone thrust a plastic tray of rubbery eggs and a cup of coffee covered in clingfilm under my nose. We arrived in Nong Khai, the border to...