25 Days of Laos (Part 4)

This is a journal of our 25-day trip around Laos on a rented Honda FTR that we fondly called Mustafa. It starts with a long bus ride from Hanoi to Laos and ends with a longer bus ride back to Hanoi.


Day 4: Luang Prabang
After having 8 to 9-hour bike trips in past two days, we decided to have a lie in. When we finally got up, we took a slow walk around Sisavangvong Road to look for a place to eat and to change money. We ended up in the outdoor area of the Luang Prabang Bakery and Guesthouse. I got the Spanish omelette which was pretty good and apparently a huge meal with the bread and other stuff that came with it. My boyfriend got one of their petite sandwiches -- Well, the bread's not exactly small but he told me that it didn't have enough filling in it.



We had a nice walk after breakfast and I immediately regretted not bringing my camera -- The temples were stunning. They're not as glamorous and sparkling as the wats in Thailand. But, they have this simple and mature charm that makes every crack, every pattern on the wall, every pillar so photogenic.

In the afternoon, we headed to Kuang Si Falls -- around a thirty-minute ride from Luang Prabang. Since it's part of a park complex where they also have a bear sanctuary, be prepared for a scenic walk to see the falls.


At the entrance, we paid around 20,000 kip and since we wanted to go to the falls first we didn't go through the path leading to the bear sanctuary which is nearer to the ticket booth. It was a big mistake -- Although the tiered waterfalls were beautiful and we enjoyed having a dip in the cool waters, I didn't get to see any bears on our way out -- They've got a really early bed time.

Take a swing!

The Swimming Area

That night, after having some wine, we decided to head to The House -- A Belgian restaurant with really awesome fries that comes with really yummy curry sauce and garlic sauce. I wasn't that impressed with the beef stew since I found it tough and too chewy but I did love the fries and the strawberry beer -- They add fruity flavours to the ordinary Laos Beer. I think they also have one with passion fruit. And, the service in there was just amazing! You don't have to wait long to get the waiter's attention.




Quick Travel Tips


Restaurants
Luang Prabang Bakery. 1/17 Sisavangvong Rd., Luang Prabang. This place has got big servings. I didn't really enjoy the pastries here. They were a bit too sweet for my taste. I thought the Spanish Omelette was great though.


The House. Phousi Road 10, Aphai Village, Luang Prabang. The service here is amazing! It's not exactly Laos food but the yummy fries and the variety of sauces that come with them are a real treat. If you're a fan of curry, the curry sauce is really good.



The Journey Continues:

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7
• Part 8
• Part 9
• Part 10
• Part 11
• Part 12
• Part 13
• Part 14 
• Part 15
• Part 16
• Part 17
• Part 18