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Well, yesterday the 9th of January was spent travelling by bus from LP to Vang Vieng which is 7 hours south by road.
A large bus for a change and a very careful driver also - for a change.
Much of the trip involves climbing and descending mountain roads and as it was rainy weather all the way the apparently beautiful views were obscured by clouds - or mist, not sure which.
The occasional glimpse through the mist, banana and coconut palms did show some steep mountain sides & wonderful green valleys - plus excellent opportunities for the bus to plunge off the slippery roads to deliver certain death to us all.
Ah, memories of earlier good times came flooding back.
As we got closer to Vang Vieng the road levelled out and huge Karsts came into view - much bigger than those in Ha Long Bay. At times the scenery looked downright prehistoric, with no sign of human habitation, just utterly lush mountain-sides with valleys criss-crossing each other. Quite unlike anything I have seen elsewhere.
The bad news is that a combination of an aisle seat and being on the wrong side of the bus, plus the wet weather, prevented us from getting any photos of all of this, dammit!
All I have is a few pretty poor quality iPhone snaps taken near the end of the trip which I will put up in the Photo part of the blog - better than nothing perhaps.
Oh, almost forgot.
Before we left Luang Prabang we got up at 5:00 A.M. to go out to the street nearby, just below our local Wat.
At dawn each day Buddhist Monks proceed down the street past the many waiting faithful who place small parcels of sticky rice in the their 'begging bowls'.
This is a morning ritual called "Tak Bat" and I guess it that has developed over time due to the Monks vows of devotion to poverty, humility and the teachings of the Buddha.
In return the pious towns-folk gain spiritual merit through their act of giving. A fair swap I reckon.
Given this is sort of a religious ceremony it is improper to shove your camera in the Monk's faces - although some did of course. I took a few iPhone shots, sans Flash, from across the street and will put these up on the Blog also.
As I write this on the morning of Saturday the 10th of January, I am sitting on the balcony of our Hotel in Vang Vieng. It's been raining steadily all morning and I am a bit cold - not something I expected to happen here!
Desley is inside getting pummelled by a tiny local woman as a part of a massage - it's been going on now for close to an hour.
It is our 34th Wedding Anniversary today and we have had a yummy full English Breakfast with lashings of toast and coffee - a nice change.
I think we will be pretty much trapped inside today as the rain doesn't look likely to stop anytime soon - how awful to be forced to do nothing all day.
Ciao.
- comments
Aliya Yay happy anniversary!!!
Allen Happy 34th! Opal I believe. Here's to many more - hic! Yes, shame about the rain 'n all, on your special day. Guess you'll just have to stay in bed & play cards - or something!
Ali & Ian Happy Anniversary! We're enjoying the blog
Desley H. Thank you to all for your best wishes. Allen, are you sure it's opal - Ken said it was sandpaper?
Allen Ha hahaha! I think he just wants you to help prepare & paint the house when you get home?