After arriving in LP and checking in my hostel I strolled around the town. It’s quite nice but looks like there isn’t much to do. The night market looked absolutely beautiful with colorful lanterns and vendors lining up selling handmade toys, silk scarves and Lao whiskey with snakes or scorpions inside. After coming back to the hostel I was delighted that some people I knew arrived form VV and were staying at the same place!!
Ayways, LP is a lovely place: a somehow sleepy town that bursts into life together with the night market, when the vendors put up their colorful lamps, silk scarves and handcraft on display on the main street. There are so many things I wanted to buy, but unfortunately my backpack has a limit that is already stretched. There is also a little alley with buffet, where for 10.000kip (1,25$) you can have “all you can eat” of noodles, vegies, spring rolls and more of delicious food. Generally, Luang Prabang changes into a magical place at night.
On the next day when we all managed to get out of beds we took a tuk tuk to the famous waterfall. We drove nearly an hour to reach one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Set in the jungle, this giant waterfall stands giant and magnificent. On the lower levels one is allowed to swim, but the higher you climb the more dangerous it becomes. We did climb up to the top (not under the waterfall but on the trek next to it of course) where the view of the forest (jungle?) was stunning. As a reward for the tiring trek we took a plunge in the water. We were so tired that even the views on our way back didn’t impress me any more (however beautiful rice paddies). The rest of the day was pretty much uneventful. On the last day in Luang Prabang I simply enjoyed the town. I booked my tickets for onward journey to Chiang Mai (back to Thailand) and then just walked around discovering the place. It’s very pretty by daylight too actually, especially once crossing the tiny bamboo bridge. 
The bridge was built every ear when the dry season came and taken down for the rainy season. On the small island there is a village and a temple. I was lucky to meet a man who really wanted to practice his English so I had a little chat with him about Laos and Luang Prabang. I can’t get over how friendly people are in here. Bask in the town I had the famous Lao style sandwich and then decided to climb up the temple mountain. I didn’t want to miss the bus so I had to make it before the sunset, which is supposed to be most beautiful from that hill. Anyways, it was well worth the conquest of something like 300 steps to get to the top. The view was once again breathtaking: the Mekong serpents, the nearby mountains and the golden temple far away hidden between the bushes. On the way down the hill there were some Buddha monuments and a print of Buddha’s foot. It was really nice to take a stroll all by myself for a change, and suck in the atmosphere of the place.
In the evening I got on the bus and left for Thailand. I must say for the price I paid (most expensive trip so far) I got the worst experience. Seriously, the chairs wouldn’t pull back, the aircon was down and the bus was overfilled. The best part was again, meeting some new wonderful people. Together we made our way to Chiang Mai and once there, all showered and pretty our Thai friend took us for the buffet feast. For 200 Bath (7$) we got all you can eat. It wasn’t noodles and rice like in LP, but all the food one could imagine: grilled meat, shrimps, sushi, desserts, and so on…. I was so full I could barely move afterwards. Too bad, cuz we went to the Sunday night market – the biggest market in town. One could buy all the souvenirs, paintings, clothes, decorations all in bright colors and oriental design – shoppers’ paradise. It was really pretty too, maybe even more than the one in LP, but gave away a bit less welcoming vibe. It was probably because of the way too many tourists that have been there and had no idea how to shop in SEA. Still, a very enjoyable evening spent in great company.
Next day was a total chill. We booked an adventure tour for the day after and I left the company to walk around the city. I found some amazing bookshops; again, I wish my backpack had bigger capacity, as I just wanted to get at least half a dozen books. I settled for “the Dice Man” finally. Once I opened the book, it was difficult to stop reading and it was evening when I finally did. The last day was the highlight though. We booked the “Tarzan adventure” which was a lot of adrenaline filled activities packed on one day. We started slowly with the Orchid and Butterfly Farm – not so thrilling I know, but pretty nonetheless. Then, we went for an elephant ride. It was pretty cool I must admit. We also managed to feed our elephant some bananas. A lot of fun once you get over the knowledge that these animals live in captivity in not the most developed world where there aren’t many rules controlling such establishments.
It was a saddening sight seeing a baby elephant trying to go for a walk but being stopped by the chain tied down its ankle. It seemed like our day was gradually increasing in thrill, as the next activity was bamboo rafting. Not much thrill there actually, but when they packed too many people on one raft and when I broke my seat – it was as scary as it was funny.
Our next thrill was ziplining. I am a coward and I knew it will be really difficult to overcome the fear. It was all terrifying, but once I got kicked out of the platform and screamed enough I started enjoying myself. The scariest lines were the ones dropping down when our guides would control the speed. One decided to play a joke on me and let me on free-fall for too long for me to handle. I thought the brake broke down or something and I’m gonna crash. You have no idea how long did I send curses towards the instructor… But the feeling afterwards – amazing! When the adrenaline is still pumping in your veins but you’re safe on the ground you just feel soooo light and happy! Ah, there’s nothing like a good adrenaline boost once in a while. 
There is also nothing like a day finished on the river. White-water rafting was amazing too. They took us way up the river somewhere in a real jungle with forest so thick that all you could see were the green treetops and palm leafs. Rafting was totally cool, even though we didn’t have to do much as the guide did most of the work (the guys in front showing extreme laziness), I still loved the experience. We were divided into 3 rafts and at some point when all three got together we just started splashing water on each other like school kids. That happened several times separated by either us getting stuck on a rock or by some rapids. Generally, that day might have been one of the highlights of my whole trip!! Absolutely loved it!! My company left me just as we came back – everyone going to Bangkok but having to catch the night bus. In all the chaos I managed to get most of their pictures and loose a really nice frame to them :[ I also checked out and moved to a cheaper place – quite dodgy, but it was only a few hours of sleep that I had to spend there.
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