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Ok - so i havent updated this for like...well...ages. One reason for this is due an unfortunate event that happened here which will be revealed by reading on. However an awful lot of experiences have been had and many a thing done........now i just have to try and blummin remember them.
Here goes -
Luang Prabang.
This is the final destination from the slow boat. A french collonial town with picturesque little streets along the Mekong river. Lots of little coffee shops and French patisseries. For the first day thought i would rent a bicycle and head out to cave that was supposedly 3km away. It was in one of the guide books saying that you go over "the" bridge (turns out there were 3) and head west for 2km. Nell - an american girl i had met on the slow boat joined and we set off. Missed the bridge and ended up heading into the outskirts of town. Asked locals for directions but they didnt seem too sure where we were on the map (they've probably never needed a map of Luang Prabang). Turned round and found the little bike and motorbike bridge - headed east for 2km and ended up back on the same road where directions were asked. Thought we would cut our losses and head back to town - it was mid day heat and these caves didnt seem to be well advertised. On our way back up (along the road we first mistakingly went down), i was cycling along when 2 guys on a scooter drove up alongside me, before i could even cotton on that they were pretty close the guy on the back had reached into the front basket and lifted my rucksack out. I watched it happen and for some reason my brain didnt connect with my body quick enough to stop the bike, vear away or grab the rucksack. The only response that my body allowed was to shout out a very pathetic and drawn out "Oooiii" by which point they were now about 2 meters in front of me but still travelling fairly slow. Finally my body woke up and re-attatched itself to the big head muscle, my legs pushing down hard on the wheels. It seemed for about 10 seconds that i was either cathching up with them or at least keeping up. Then the driver clocked me in the mirror and twisted the throttle. They shot off up the road and out of sight - even though i knew i would not catch them on my push bike i carried on fast as i could because when we had taken the wrong turning earlier i had spotted a police station. I pulled up out of breath, where there were 2 guys pottering around in a little hut. I said "Police" a fair few times and with gesture and simplistic broken English tried to explain my bag had been stolen. They didnt seem to interested and waved me to go to the bigger building further in the compound. I headed over and it was all closed with no signs of anyone inside. I went back to the 2 guys and one of them walked me behind the main building to a second one where two other guys were sat on the floor watching tv. I explained again what had happened and the he said for me to wait there. He got on the phone which i guessed was to get an on duty policeman to come back to the station. After about 10 minutes i guy in a black t-shirt resembling the spiderman outfit turned up. Wow - he's only gone and got a Laoitian Superhero! - No, turns out he was just a guy that could speak some english. He said i needed to go the the tourist police which was in town. So headed back to town to find the Tourist police office next to the toursit information centre. This was about 12:45 in the afternoon and the sign said they closed till 1:30pm. Went and had a drink - came back at relevant time and realised that the sign actually said it was only open Mon-Fri. This was the same for the Toursit Police. Now i've been in Laos for a couple of days but i dont think anywhere in the world you may get thieves, criminals, thugs etc operating on a strict 9-5, Mon-Fri basis. Oh well, this is just how it goes so headed back to the hotel so i could double check what i did and didnt have in the rucksack. I knew my camera was in there already but then also found i had popped my Ipod in there, a book, my guide book (which was a present from the lovely guys in cardiff), mozzy spray and a few other bits and bobs.
Nell had been with me the whole time and was very sweet. I think she felt more sorry than i did for what had happened. She said that she wanted to pay for dinner to try and console me and my bad luck. I said it wasnt neccesary but we headed to Laos Laos Garden for food. I ordered a Laos BBQ which was immense. They came along and reached under the table to pop up a tile in the middle of the table. In the stem of the table was a pit which was shortly filled with a clay bucket with a hot fire inside. On the fire they then placed what resembled a car hub cap. The guy then brought a big basket of noodles and veg and a large plate of meat (chicken, beef and pork) He then filled the hub cap with water (or a broth) and put the veg and noodles in. The middle of the hub cap was protuding, a mound turned island from the soupy broth that surounded it. The guy advised 5 minutes then to put some animal fat and then the meat on the mound. Perfect! - Cooking my own meal at my table. Nell ordered a salad which came half way through me cooking my feast. After dinner headed to a bar for a few bev's.
Rather annoying about my bag but at least it wasnt bad luck along the lines of my foot and was just replacable "things".
Next day was sunday so still no chance to speak to the Police. Thought i would complete yesterdays failed mission and head to a cave. Although this time a different one further away which sits on the Mekong. Pak Ou caves (if i remember correctly). There were apparently some amazing waterfalls nearby with lushious blue lagoons however with the foot i wouldnt be able jump in and along with yesterdays annoyance didnt want to add further frustrations.
Agreed a price with the Tuk-Tuk driver who then drove round the corner to a guy at a table on some grass. He said to pay him all of the money. After explaining i wasnt paying some random bloke at the side of the road when i havent even left was eventually understood and he set off. Other tuk tuk drivers wouldnt go below a certain price because they said the road was very bad but for about 30 mins it was a nice smooth tarmac road. We did turn of the main road which then turned into a really bumpy dirt track. Probably travelled 5km when we suddenly haulted - oh...ok, just an elephant eye balling us in the middle of the road. He was reluctantly dragged away by his owner (seemed the elephant was being used for logging).
Finally made it to the Mekong. Had to get a little boat over the river to the rock face which housed the caves. Headed up some steps to the top one. Headed in with a flash light - well, yeah it was a cave but nothing truly spectacular, which was the same with the lower cave that housed hundreds of Buddha statues. From the river it looks pretty impressive and i think the caves status is due to the religious connections of being a place of worship for the last few hundred years. Spent about 40 minutes and then got the little boat back to the tuk tuk.
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