Luang Prabang 1 - a series of random travel thoughts and nonsense

G'day family and friends all

Sitting back to a Mekong river sunset outside just in front of our hotel in Luang Prabang.  What a beautiful and tranquil place, although it is low season.

Today we walked the old town and visited Wat Thong and Wat Nong, amongst others.  Actually the Lao word for buddhist temple is Vat, so Vat Thong and Vat Nong.  Their meanings respectively are "The Monastery of" the City of Erythrinas (or thong trees) and the Very Auspicious City Lake.

We also passed by Vat That or Wat That.  Unsure of meaning?

Buffalo and river fish feature on the menus regularly in salads, stir fry, curries, etc.  All worth trying.

Lessons learned:
* The Lao people are delightful
* They have an efficiency of language second to none (see Vat name meanings above)
* Bring a practised chilli palate
* Dried buffalo is delicious, however a lot bigger than a guinea pig
* Lao Kip (the currency) are almost as frequent in number as the Vietnamese Dong and the Zambian Kwacha
* Beer Lao is very good, I could get very used to paying less than $2 a stubble and there is a dark brew
* Laos is no longer a "TOA", there is good coffee to find
* Wine is expensive, however there are too many French temptations, a hangover of the colonial years
* A good croissant and a tasty baguette is to be had in Luang Prabang

Had a couple of days in Bangkok prior to Laos.  It has grown up a lot, however is almost unrecognisable.  Went to a fabulous old colonial house with traditional Thai cuisine and washed it down with a lovely old French white. 

For those of you thinking of coming to Laos bring cash as cards aren't widely accepted.  We had some card troubles today, however now resolved.  Plenty of ATMs to use.