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 a t-shirt and making a donation to a very worthy cause. Interestigly this refuge was set up and run by an Ausstralian women, check it out on the web. Last thoughts on Laos: spectacular scenery, friendly polite locals, pretty heavy tourism in the main centres, and a very complex culture, and although we didnt see it, we read that there is a deep resentment to the US secret war that involved bombing the absolute hell out of the country in the 70's which is probably more remembered by the early generations and in particular areas which were decimated. Laos is another country which was an innocent victim of super powers fighting turf wars i guess.
Next off to the Luang Prabang international airport for flight to Cambodia. We killed our waiting time by playing downball in the drop off area (a first for the airport i'd imagine) and then the plane left early and actually arrived early (a first for any flight i have ever caught!!)