Hello from Luang Prabang, Laos where I'm typing this at an internet cafe with a monk sitting at the computer next to me - how very modern! Got here this morning on a 8.45am flight from Hanoi which meant a 5.30am wake up call and another delightful drive back to the airport - not so harrowing this time as it was light and I guess I knew what to expect. Still, we must have passed about a million scooter/motorbikes with huge loads of everything from flowers, wood, dead pigs, baskets of stuff etc balanced on the back. Anythough this is nothing compared to yesterday when I saw a woman strolling through the Old Quarter with a bath balanced on her head.

Well worth getting the Laos visa in Australia as I was thru customs and out the door in 5 minutes flat while everyone else from the plane had to fill in forms and queue up to get theirs.

Definately lovely here, lots of temples (and monks!), very laid back and peaceful with a French influence. Also lots of tourists! It has rained pretty steadily today but it brings the temperature down so is actually quite refreshing. Just been on a big walk around the main town (with umbrella) and down to look at the Mekong River - very brown. I've booked a Lao cooking class for tomorrow 8.30-1.30 which sounds great - evidently we get to go to the market and choose our own produce then learn to cook it the Lao way. Then eat it of course. Yum!

Well, about to head to the Night Markets - crafts, textiles, food etc then back to the pad to a few well earned BeerLao. Nice!