Luang Prabang, Laos

Right now I am in Luang Prabang taking a five day side trip in Laos. The bus ride up here was crazy. We went in a mini van which was great and stopped a bunch a long the way to pee and eat. This ride had so many turns and twists and the driver didn't slow down for them but just went faster through them. I don't get car sick but I couldn't read on this ride. I had to lean back, close my eyes, and listen to my ipod the whole trip. We made it to Laung Prabang in one piece though! I am here with Nina, Valerie, and a girl they met in Vang Vieng, Anja.

On Tuesday morning when we woke up we found that we had no power. For some reason from 7:50am till 6pm on Tuesday and Wednesday there wasn't going to be electricity. We don't know why but it is always when there isn't electricity that you want it the most. So every night we are happy to have power again.

Luang Prabang is a pretty place, very different from Vang Vieng. I love the French influence in the architecture and croissants! The best thing for me is the night market and shopping! I am having a lot of fun with it. I wish I had brought a suitcase that was as big as me so I could bring everything i want back in it! I'm getting better at bartering and have figured out when to walk away to get a better price!

Yesterday the four of us, plus a couple me met a few days ago, were going to share a tuk tuk to a big waterfall. This turned into the tuk tuk from hell situation. Anja had arranged a great price the day before but the guy never showed so we had to find another tuk tuk to take us... in the end we had this one tuk tuk guy following us around telling other tuk tuk drivers not to give us a better price. It ended up with us yelling at the guy to stop following us and to go away. All and all we got a better price but not the best. It was a nice waterfall... pictures to come.

In Vang Vieng and here as well people have put up X-mas decorations. If I hadn't seen them i would have completely forgotten that it is the holiday season. Right now I'm not sad that I'm missing anything.. hell, I don't have to buy gifts this year. The holidays aren't my favorite anyways... I just wish that there weren't the reminders around. Maybe come x-mas day I will be a little sad about it... but right now I'm fine.

Let's see, I'm in an internet cafe that won't allow me to upload photos. Don't know why... but oh well. I think I have forgotten how to smile because i smile so often for pictures. Especially after English camp I didn't want to have to smile for pictures anymore. So if I look funny that is part of it.

That's all for now. I might leave tomorrow or Satruday for Vang Vieng.