Or welcome in Lao! (I'm the world's worst linguist, so please excuse me!)

Our first full day in Luang Prabang. It has been very special. I have been looking around for some shoes in which to run, not far mind you, maybe 5 k's at the most, but I certainly feel well enough to run and my toes are itchy! They are so ugly compared to everybody else, at least that would explain it! I guessed last night that behind the locked shutters was a sports store, and I headed there on our rounds this morning. It was, however the shoes seemed to be specialised to two sports only, football (studs) and badminton (indoor, non marking soles). I'm not too fussy, and will keep looking for anything suitable.

Bob did go for a run this morning, (lucky duck) and we then went around the morning markets and had some Lao coffee (arabica beans grown in the hills and sweet, but good). Afterwards we explored Phou Si, the hillock which rises 100m in the centre of the old temple district of town, with a spectacular old Wat at the top, surrounded by huge, ancient frangipani trees. Buddhas 'footprint' is nearer the base on the northern side, a depression in a sacred painted cave about the height of two men, and some interesting depictions of Buddha on the way up. It was pretty impressive, but also lovely and serene and worth visiting again.

A long protracted stroll around the town afterwards enabled us to find an out of the way noodle place for a bite to eat, very good and cheap, before walking across a bridge to another smaller local market on the other side. I had a coconut drink (whole coconut with a hole stabbed through the top for a straw) and we contemplated our future plans.

At the moment, we are likely to stay here for another 4 or 5 nights. We have found a place that rents OK mountain bikes (the frames are a bit big, but otherwise OK), and maybe tomorrow we will cycle out to the Waterfall about 32kms away. As long as we take lots of water and leave very early, we should be alright on these bikes, getting back before the full heat of the day hits.

Another essential is to visit the Red Cross for a massage (and herbal sauna for me). There are so many things that we have to write them down (I use the note function in my mobile phone, but hell, I'm a gal from the 60's).


The garmin is a treat on this trip, although we found that one camera (compact 8 Mb Olympus MuJu) between two control freaks is false (weight) economising! Next time, 2 camera's for sure!

Until later (Duck 1 has cornered the photo CD - again (grrr), back these are available at www.flickr.com/photos/bob_harlow/