Luang Prabang, Laos

Luang Prabang, Laos

March 30 - April 4, 2014 with Lana

Mekong Riverview Hotel

Will definitely stay here again.  Location fabulous!  Mr. Urban, owner, friendly and knows all the right things needed in a hotel:  fresh roses in bedroom and bathroom; toilet and sinks/shower separate rooms; hairdryer beside full length mirror not in bathroom; robes, slippers, laundry service; beds with remote controls to put up head and feet!; free transportation to and from airport; sprays room for insects while we are out for dinner; free drinks in fridge (water and soda); free bikes; free rides in golf cart to town; breakfast unlimited orders from menu; and wine party bi-weekly so guests can meet each other!  Really what more do you want?

6:00 am  Alms Ceremony

Biked out to Ock Pop Tok Traditional Textile place - had a tour to learn or re-learn (in my case) how silk is made, saw the looms for weaving the silk and saw how different plants are used for dying the silk.  We then got our hands-on experience of weaving silk!  I made a beautiful placemat/wall hanging - it was tons of fun but this little piece took me 3 hours to weave!

We ate dinner at The Blue Lagoon on Monday night.

Tuesday we had a driver who took us out to a new Butterfly Garden and then on to the Kuang Si Waterfalls.

Yes I did jump!

That night it was the meet and greet wine gathering at the hotel where we met lots of new friends.  There was Chris (American working in Yangon) and Karen (starting up the new Dulwich school in Singapore); Bill and Debbie from Alaska but are international teachers now living in Saudi Arabia but did work at Singapore American School when it first opened in the late 1990s; then there was Lisa and her mother-in-law Margaret from England, but Lisa and her husband Rob (not there) live in Singapore; and finally there was the USA ambassador of Laos and his wife and 2 people who work for him.  Not too bad of a turn out!  

We had dinner at Tamarind with Chris and Karen that evening. Did a sunset boat tour with Lisa and Margaret, then had dinner with them and Bill and Debbie at Roselle Fusion Restaurant the following evening!  (Unfortunately didn't take any photos... I had some limited battery issues... but do regret not taking some shots!)

Lana and I searched high and low for this jewelry place on Wednesday as it was said to be just across the bamboo bridge near the traditional textile village.  Well we got lost finding the village but finally did but couldn't find the jewelry store.  We saw how paper was made and some more looms for silk!

Jill and Lana

Thursday we split up to do things we each wanted to do and as I am meandering around town and side streets I come upon a different bamboo bridge and low and behold, the jewelry store is right on the other side of THIS bamboo bridge!  So I find a piece of jewelry I can make in about an hour and I make it!  Garden of Eden Jewelry

The last night we ate at L'Elephant Restaurant - it was fabulous!  And then we went to the night market for a third time!  And I bought a beautiful bedspread!  It's perfect for Singapore as it is cotton and light weight.  

Queen size handmade cotton bedspread and pillow covers $40!

The trip was a huge success and Lana and I got on quite well and laughed and met new friends and we are looking forward to going back - anyone else want to come?