Oh, what a lovely lovely day. Adam, wherever you are, bless your heart for insisting I stop at Vang Vieng. Although it’s totally overrun with backpackers, they can’t do a thing to dent the sheer gorgeousness of this place. All of this is made even better by the fact that the bed I slept in last night and the shower I had this morning are without doubt the best since home. I’d tell you all the name of the guest house, but I’ve forgotten it again.
The drive from Luang Prabang was spectacular, albeit bumpy – all those hills and mountains I saw from the Mekong were our terrain. And about 4 hours into the 6 hour drive, these different-shaped, almost jagged, rocky heights began to appear on the horizon. I thought how lovely it would be to get a better look at them, sit in their shadow, watch the sun set behind them. Imagine my surprise, then, when I wandered down to the river’s edge here in Vang Vieng after checking into my guest house, and found myself standing squarely at their foot. I spent the day on a little peninsula/island in the middle of the river, lying in a hammock and reading, jumping in the water to cool off now and then. Idyllic doesn’t even begin to describe it.
I feel like so much has happened since last I posted that I shouldn’t even bother trying to set it all down, but I feel compelled to share the highlights: a spectacular 3-course french meal at L’Elephant in Luang Prabang, with good French wine, eaten in perfect colonial liesure and luxury; sunset from Mt. Phousi; the best homemade yogurt – well, I’ll spare the rest of the superlative statement. It’s been a great few days. Let’s just leave it at that.
Next on the agenda: tonight, try to find my friends who arrived this afternoon. Tomorrow, kayaking and innertubing, partly in caves. Monday: kayaking and riding to Vientiane. Whee!
Oh yes, and my back is feeling much better, thanks.