Laid back in Laos

So we decided to extend our stay here in Luang Prabang, Laos & fore go floating down the river in Vang Vien & checking out Buddha park in Vientiane. Both are about 8 hours away & both activities didn't exactly make us jump on our feet. We are traveling thru 5 different countries & we are learning to put our top priorities & interest at the top of our list & ask ourselves stuff like is it worth an 8-10 hour bus ride? Are we content here? Do we need to see more? Traveling out of our backpacks has been one of our best life decisions especially since it allows us to see the world together & gain a more refined perspective on life. Backpacking is the best way to really experience what it means to travel. Although a backpackers life can be grueling, at the end of the day & final destination it is so worth it. It's funny to look back at what we would pack for a weekend trip or a couple nights of camping.

Thailand gave us a lot to do; beaches, islands, Bangkok, city, food, elephants, tigers, & temples so it was nice to come to Laos knowing little about the country, culture &  food & experience this lovely place first hand.

We rented bikes for $2.50/day for 2 & rode around the city,  passed temples, the rivers & French colonial homes. 

We also took a sunset yoga class from a place called Utopia. A place that looked like it came out of a scene in the movie Wanderlust with Paul Rudd & Jennifer Aniston. It was a restaurant/lounge tucked in an alley over looking the river, low chairs, Hookah on the tables, tropical plants all around, volleyball court, & hippie music playing. At the end of yoga the moon lit the sky & the place became "groovy".

We have been spending time at the night market people watching & supporting the locals. We bought 2 bracelets & an elephant pouch from 2 school girls who said they were raising money for school. We are total suckers for children!...& dogs!

The other day we caught a tuk tuk with 7 other foreigners to cut the price to get to Kuang Si Falls, Luang Prabang's  pride & joy. The road to get there was bumpy & whindy passing thru villages & farm lands. At the sight there were food & craft vendors. We bought water & Beer Lao to drink by the falls. The lady we bought it from made sure we came back for bbq after the falls. It cost 20,000 kip each to enter the falls. We passed thru a bear preservation center going towards the falls. The bears were chilling in hammocks, eating watermelon, climbing on ropes & cooling off in their own pond. We reached the falls after a short 5 min walk. The view was enchanting, it was a 3 tier waterfall with blue lagoon water surrounded by lush jungle. We found our own little oasis near the main fall. There were also other sections near to take a dip & take in the scenery. 

It has been fun spotting the same people we rode the 22 hour bus ride with around town. It's like we have an automatic connection from that experience. We wave, laugh, smile & small talk when we see them.  We actually saw some people from south Thailand here in Laos. In Chiang Mai we said bye to Chris from England 3 times, twice down south & 1 time north Thailand. It's crazy how the universe works & the people you meet.

We are debating wether to stay for the new year which they celebrate with water, parades, food & washing of Buddha. New year is April 13,  similar to Thailand's Songkran celebration.

Until then, we will rest up for Vietnam, continue to people watch, sip on lattes, & eat baguettes.