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JK - Our day started with a walk up Phu Si, which is 100m above Luang Prabang. The views from the top are amazing, so good that Tom went back later to get in some sunset shots over the city.
We then went to TAEC a museum set up by an American woman and a Lao woman. Here we learned to distinguish between the many different tribes of Laos including Hmong, Akha and Khamu and all the different smaller tribes within these. It was far more fascinating than I expected. A number of these tribes had some rituals that the government have since made illegal, a good thing in some cases, I just hope they don't take too much away from what makes them who they are.
We were also told that it is currently the Hmong New Year and learned about all the traditional games involved, including boys and girls standing in opposite lines throwing a ball to each other. If dropped you have to sing a song/buy a beer/give a kiss - depending on your preference! It was traditionally a sort of mating ritual that could lead to marriage. We all then got to see this in action and Tom and I joined in, we both dropped the ball at some point, but fortunately are not engaged to anyone else!
In the afternoon we headed to Kuang Si falls. Water tumbles over limestone rocks in to amazingly green coloured pools. A few of us plunged in and had a swim, just a fantastic experience. Even the fish nibbling at our feet was fun! Tom and Mick were brave enough to jump of the rope swing....
The quest to find the best massage in SE Asia continued when Mick, Victoria, Jules and I took a trip to the Lao Red Cross Massage. There are a number of massage parlours in Luang Prabang, but donations to this one go towards helping the poorest villages in Laos, so this seemed like a good one to go for. It was a little more rustic than the one in Bangkok, more 'banged up abroad' than opium den, but the massage was amazing. I think the general consensus though was that this one was better! The quest will go on in Vietnam!
In the evening, Mick, Victoria, Jules, Julie, Lindsey and I headed to Tamarind but unfortunately it was closed. Instead we ended up at this lovely little place overlooking the river. The food was fantastic, but the trip to the loos was an experience; some guy peeling onions in the middle of the room and an old lady watching tv, were just two of the things we passed on the way! I'm just glad we didn't see the kitchen.
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