"Jewel of the Mekong" a Luang Prabang Travel Page by steevie_wanders

What to say about Luang Prabang? Others have written more about it, more eloquently too. It's a World Heritage Site, which in some ways I have mixed feelings about. It's great to 'preserve' the place, but this comes at a cost eg. ever larger numbers of airbourne tourists jetting in, requiring more hotels to be built and pushing out any trace of authenticity to the place.. In 2004 the lower end guesthouse prices near the river were around $3 to $5. On my return in 2005 they were $10 to $12! Inevitable, but sad to see for the budget traveller like me..

Still, this a beautifully preserved French colonial town, perched on the confluence of two rivers, and is stuffed full of really beautiful temples. It has a centrally positioned hill, giving an amazing 360 degree views over the town and surrounding hills. There is so much to see in Luang Prabang, too much to mention here. I don't want to start repeating the lonely planet!

My impressions:

- Arriving on the slow boat just before sunset, the river ablaze in golden light.
- Several friendly boat people trying to fish out the irish boys' football from the river, on arrival (who plays football on a quayside?).
- Having to wake up(!) a tuk-tuk driver to get a lift.
- The string of electric lightbulbs of the nightmarket illuminating swathes of rich colured cloth.
- Incredibly delicious foods from the nightmarket side-alley, including buffalo, fresh spring rolls and something I can only describe as lao scotch eggs!
- Monks chanting at sunset on Phu Si hill.
- The Lao disco followed by noodle soup at 5am.