Catch up Blog - From Bangkok to Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang

Bangkok was going to be a challenge - we had never been here before but I found a great place in a little neighborhood that is so manageable - the laundry is 90 steps to the left from our guesthouse; street food is right out front along the canal; there are restaurants along the riverside; the people at the front desk are so cheerful and helpful that we decide that BKK is OK. We shop at the huge weekend market Chatachuck to find our Red Stella goods.

We left Bangkok for Chiang Mai - it was such a great return. The streets looked clean and wide - the buildings are only 2 stories. From the chaos of Bangkok we see the familiar - almost suburban Chiang Mai - this is the 3rd visit for me, second one for Dave - and it was the coming back to: where you go for skicky rice,we know the stores where we buy things and surprise - the merchants remember us!! It's been 3 years but walking the familiar streets and seeing the things that have changed - it is comforting. We stay at the same place (they have added a pool!) - Baan Orapin is an old teak house that is now surrounded by guestrooms - the owner studied architecture at Arizona State. Nice peaceful oasis in the middle of the busy city.

Soon enough, we leave for our Luang Prabang jag - we fly from CM to LP - we had never been before and it is an incredibly beautiful city (World Hertiage) The French were here with their architecture (think Indochine) and it is a pennisula between two rivers - the lovely Mekong and a river flowing into it - I cannot imagine a more beautiful town There are 43 temples (called wats) and every morning the monks walk out to collect their daily food from the devoted. See pics.

It is actually a bit of a tourist zoo ( some quite aggressive - I think it is the French!). However is also evocative and special. Just a block away from the main road, the monks return back to their wat and this looks like it must have - no tourist cameras, just old ladies giving rice to the orange clad monks - beautiful!

We are here for a few days - mostly go out in the mornings, sleep during the afternoons (it's hot) and have G&Ts, then dinner at night, watching the sun go down over the Mekong.