Luang Prabang

The city of many wats was part of the Kingdom of a Million Elephants - Lane Xang.
But this UNESCO world heritage city has also succumbed to the influx of tourists.

Despite the touristy nature of it, this is still a very charming city. With many trees, rivers, mountains. Good for many lazy strolls in the old city among the many wats, or visiting and swim in the near by waterfalls, or trekking the mountain and visiting the local villages, or do a elephant ride, or biking and white water rafting.

I did a one-day trekking and elephant ride, which was great! The waterfalls we visited for lunch break was amazing, almost like that of Dunnes river falls in Jamaica.

Also watching the monks at 6:30AM out to collecting alms was very cool, but I was told they started at 5:30AM 8 years ago, and even few years ago, they stared at 6. How tourism has change even the religion itself.

One night the gang from Vang Viang went to a Laosian BBQ place (couple of boy-girls working there), which is sort like a mix between Chinese hotpot and Korean BBQ, cooked over coal fire. Very good! After the dinner we went to check out a local disco place: loud music with college/high school kids!

Apparent the drug use isn't just foreigners. My trekking guide told me methamphetamine is pretty big in Laos. He was once a user, but quit after his family sent him to Thailand to live with his sister for one year. he now enjoying being a touk-touk driver and a guide. He appaerent also enjoy western women. He went to Thailand for one of the crazy full moon party and had sex with some drunken western lady. He is married with kids!