Day 49 - 51 Luang Prabang

A world heritage city surrounded by the Mekong, slightly crumbling french villas and bright flowers line the narrow streets, a mixture of freshly baked baguettes and laos fried bananas fill the air, monks walk the street with their umbrellas trying to hide from the hot sun, the local children play in groups on the street and families on bicycles whizz by. Luang Prabang's French history and truly amazing residents makes this beautiful city one of the best in South East Asia. Mike and I couldn't believe our luck when we arrived from Vang Vieng as the sun was setting. Our drive over the mountain that day once again revealed authentic and basic Laos village life and we were not expecting Luang Prabang to be so...boutiquey so Asian European and yet so close to the hill tribes. The accommodation we had booked the day before via agoda turned out to be a really goody. Mansion Duabula was set in the pretty residential quarter of Luang Prabang but only a 5 minute bike ride to town. The gardens and Lilly ponds were amazing and could be attributed to the hardworking caretaker who was out there everyday working his 70 year old butt off, complete with a huge smile and bamboo hat. On our days here we took the free bikes and rode around town, explored the night market (one of the best and tranquil we have experienced) watched the monks in their monasteries, and visited the waterfalls surrounding the town. Our tuk tuk driver ( who became our regular for our stay and of course looked like he had won the lotto everytime he saw us) took us out to the waterfalls one morning back through animal run streets and laughing children. Here we visited the Bear sanctuary which has been set up to rehabilitate bears that have been captured and used on the black market. It was distressing to see bears who had been kept in very small cages for the first years of their lives and used for their bile. Some of the bears were stunted, some very very slow and wobbly (they have never experienced so much space and freedom of movement). The other Sun bears who had been at the Sanctuary longer where well on their way to happier lives, beautiful and healthy, full of character and play fighting. The Bear Sanctuary is truly a fantastic organization, it just astounds me how cruel some human beings can be. After watching the bears we made our way up to the waterfalls...they didn't look real. Icy cold water cascading down into a  bright colour blue I have never really seen in the water before, it was almost like a movie set. Mike enjoyed his first cold swim this entire trip and jumping of the rope swing. After our Bear and waterfall day it was back into town for a salami baguette and carrot cake.  The food in Luang Prabang was awesome, by day it was French patisseries and by night it was the night market where you can fill a plate with the freshest local foods for 10,000kip each ($1.50)...we can't rave about this city well Laos in general enough.