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After the self inflicted drama leaving Bangkok we had high hopes for Luang Prabang (which the locals seem to pronounce 'Long Prabarrng').
It is only a one hour or so flight to LP and as you travel over Laos it reveals some quite unusual geography - on our Flight Path the country seemed to consist of medium size mountains with many, many valleys and rivers. The rivers I saw may actually be only one or two as they twist and turn a great deal, following the topography as old river systems do.
As the Plane began it's final descent ('final descent' - now there's an unfortunate phrase) the flight took on a "Raiders of the Lost Ark" vibe as it followed a path similar to the river, curving through the mountains. The terrain is such that you would have to wonder where there would be enough flat ground to land a Plane on.
Of course there is a runway & Airport there and although it is small, it's neat & tidy and well run. One of the local Customs Officers has a sense of humour too. When looking at the nine year old photo in my Passport and the much more recent one I had to supply for the Visa he was issuing, he pointed at the older photo and said 'this one better'. I had to agree, not that that's saying much in any case.
Changed some US dollars into Lao Kip (8,000 Kip = 1 Australian Dollar), paid 50,000 of said Kip for a shared pre-paid Taxi Van to take us about 4 or 5 kilometres into Town and checked into our nice Hotel, The Philaylack Villa 1..
This Town has a reputation for being very relaxed and, so far, that has proven to be correct. We do have to get through our first night here and as our Hotel is down a side street off the main drag, we might be OK.
I should mention that the Hotel in Bangkok seemed quiet too - until the Karaoke Bar started.
Ciao.
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