Luang Prabang

Well good news... it seems the farther away you get from Communist party HQ, the better the roads get.  While it was a long drive, we stayed on pavement for most of it with only the odd bit of construction.  It was unfortunate that the smog continued so our views of the (beautiful and stunning) mountains wasn't optimal.

We really started to get worried about the roads when our driver got out to leave an offering at the local spirit house before taking on the mountains!

No guard rails here!

That infernal smog... (and stupid water spots in the camera)

After about 5 hours of hills and moutains, we finally arrived in the quaint little village of Luang Prabang... the former capital.

Along the river

There's the Mekong again.

And the river taxis

This is the main drag

A nice spot for dinner to watch the sun set

The first of many, many fruit shakes

Sunset along the Mekong

 The next day, we hired a local Tuk Tuk for 200,000 Kip (about $25) to take us 35 kms out to Kuang Si Waterfalls.  This is a multi-stage waterfall that was spectacular... and we know our waterfalls!  To get there you go through an Asian Bear Rescue Centre that had seemingly dozens of them playing or lounging around in large caged in areas.  They are quite a bit smaller than our brown bears and just as nosy.  But we couldn't wait to see those falls so on we hiked!

One of the small ones at the bottom

Oh... this looks interesting!

Yup, it is!

Big brother looking out for sis

Who can look after herself!

Dragging themselves in after hours of fun in the surprisingly cold water

Some new friends they/we met.  Feren and Eric (Father Rob and Mother Lois) from Victoria, BC.  They are doing a 7 month sabbatical all in Asia.

It just keeps getting prettier as you go up!

See what I mean?

The big waterfall is behind us... at least 250'

Stunning

The view from up top looking over the edge

Our Tuk-Tuk

Rachel's new Ray Ban's

Dad's new Oakleys

We loved that waterfall and then had dinner with the family from Victoria.  It was good to share experiences with home schooling, travelling, etc with a similar family.  This entry is getting long *on pictures at least) so I'll call it a night.