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 unexplored bombs, malaria, hook worm, etc
The food is great: baguettes, crepes, Laos food, Etc... And you can eat really cheap if you hunt around. Lao Beer is a great Lager too and only $1 for a large bottle. It's a good town for walking, running and we've hired bikes to get around which cost about 10000 Kip ($1.20) per bike per day. Not too much traffic and a good way to explore the street life ( seems to be a crepe stall and charcoal chicken street stall every 10 m. Oh, and the Laos people seem to drink and do karaoke every night, they don't ever sleep! Our hotel is near a temple with a 3 day, 24 hour Buddhist ceremony happening at the moment complete with megaphone and gongs at 4am. I'm sleeping through it but Jens a light sleeper, so the good will with the buddhists is wearing a bit thin there.
We rode an elephant in a river today which was pretty cool, and probably the tourism gives the elephants a better life than hauling logs and being treated cruelly. Three more days in Laos then we are off to Cambodia. Can't wait to get to Cambodia, everyone says the locals are really friendly and generally good vibe.