Lao

Arrived in Luang Prabang. Staying at the Jaliya Guest House.  An old French colonial style building. Big room with a balcony. Costs 60,000 kip a night (1000 kip = 0.0765 pence). So room costs £4.60 a night. Has a hot shower in a big bathroom.

It is more expensive than Thailand, but £10-£15 a day gets the room, breakfast, dinner and drinks, plus entrance to a couple of sites, for both of us. So no complaints!!

Quite hot at midday into the afternoon at 35°C, but feels warmer in the still air. Just right for a little light exercise. Mike is well pleased that most temples are built on top of high hills!!

Luang Prabang has a large night market, which sells lots of hand made stuff. We can't get too much because of the weight we have to carry. Decided to do the bulk of any shopping in the last couple of weeks of our trip.
Quite a lot of jewellery, bottle openers, spoons etc, made out of the recovered uxb and other ordnance that the Americans 'didn't' drop on Lao during the Vietnam war.
There are still many places dangerous to go to because of unexploded bombs!! A bit like Pembrokeshire!

There is a part of the market devoted to food. You pay 10,000 kip, 75 pence, fill your plate form a large selection of vegetarian dishes, and eat your fill. If you want chicken, pork, or fish then that is an extra 5,000 kip.
A large beer cost 10,000 kip, and is very tasty.

Close by the market are stalls that specialise in selling baguettes with all kinds of fillings, Part of the French influence. Makes a nice change from rice, and noodles!

Most of the work seems to be done by the women. So Yvonne decided to get a new job!!!