So, we wrapped up our Laos trip to one of the local waterfalls, which were about 1 hr out of town by tuk tuk. The waterfalls have to be some of the most stunning you could see owing to the minerals in the limestone which gives the pools a milky blue/ green colour. good place for swimming and rope swinging into cold water. There is also a bear rescue centre there which cares for injured and resuced bears from bile farms, horrific practice. We did our bit by buying...

Luang Prabang is a pretty amazing place. It is listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site; unique mix of beautiful Buddhist temples, stunning landscape and French colonial architecture. Lots of monks, very spiritual and superstitious country it seems, and communist to boot (Russian flags everywhere). the down side is that it's very touristy in the main area and sanitation is pretty awful, just another issue the Laos people have to deal with, in addition to unexplo...

Arrived into Laos border town of Huay Xai on the Mekong on 30 Dec. Greeted by a surly immigration lady who sniffed the $100 US that I handed over in case it was counterfeit. Welcome to Laos. The Laos people are hard to read; generally not as helpful and friendly as the Thais, however we have met some great laosians as well. I'd say it's been a pretty hard road for this country, including USA carpet bombing during the Vietnam war, poverty, etc From Huay Xai we he...