Time to move on to Laos. An amzing thing happened today. We were lining up at Hanoi international airport terminal for the plane to Laos. Someone from another lineup called "Sheila!". We turned round and it was Julie and Scott, our neighburs across the road in Oakridge for the last 5 years or so, now living in Beijing! 9For once, he was not wearing his kilt!)They were there wtih 10 year old Aiden, who has grown like topsy, and the 5 year old twins! We hugged and visited, then they continued to Beijing ia Guangzhou and we to Luang Prabang! What are the chance that our paths would cross at that exact time in Vietnam! They will be back in mCalgary in May and we will see them again, as they have sold the house opposite us now.
Hanoi airport is new, modern and very efficient. Although we were slow to board, they left right on time, a 1hr 20min flight to Laos old capital LP. It as nice to see the farmland on the outskirts of the city as we had arrived in the dark on Wednesday.
A haze covered the whole area but we could barely define rocky hilltops as we dropped into LP. It's another communist cuntry, so much officialdom as we applied for entry visas ($43 each) then pass through immigration where they wanted to check our Vietnam visas too! Odd.
We were immediately in another third world country. Bags were waiting when we finished with immigration, and and A/C car to pick us up for the half hour or so drive to Lotus Villas, a charming butique hotel n the middle of the LP peninsula between the mighty Mekong and the other Kham river.
A warm greeting from the friendly Lao staff and NZ manager Tania, with tamarind juice and local tips, but we could not wait to get into our room and peel off. I am now glad I brought a sweater as it's cold on the planes, and now cold here in the evenings and mornings even more so.
We are in the upstairs corner room in one of the villas, overlooking a magnificent temple roof and lovely shaded garden. The birds greet us the orning and friendly staff take our breakfast order, eaten in the garden, all beautifully served with the local fresh fruits...aaaaah
After a refreshing rest, we ventured out in the blistering sun, about 35 here and bit humid by the rivers. Restaurants line the riverbank overlokhng the busy river with riverboats plying their trade everywhere, and farmers growing crops anywhere not to vertical on the Medkong shores.
Sorry about typos, google blog doesn't spellcheck! or I haven't found it...
Hanoi airport is new, modern and very efficient. Although we were slow to board, they left right on time, a 1hr 20min flight to Laos old capital LP. It as nice to see the farmland on the outskirts of the city as we had arrived in the dark on Wednesday.
A haze covered the whole area but we could barely define rocky hilltops as we dropped into LP. It's another communist cuntry, so much officialdom as we applied for entry visas ($43 each) then pass through immigration where they wanted to check our Vietnam visas too! Odd.
We were immediately in another third world country. Bags were waiting when we finished with immigration, and and A/C car to pick us up for the half hour or so drive to Lotus Villas, a charming butique hotel n the middle of the LP peninsula between the mighty Mekong and the other Kham river.
A warm greeting from the friendly Lao staff and NZ manager Tania, with tamarind juice and local tips, but we could not wait to get into our room and peel off. I am now glad I brought a sweater as it's cold on the planes, and now cold here in the evenings and mornings even more so.
We are in the upstairs corner room in one of the villas, overlooking a magnificent temple roof and lovely shaded garden. The birds greet us the orning and friendly staff take our breakfast order, eaten in the garden, all beautifully served with the local fresh fruits...aaaaah
After a refreshing rest, we ventured out in the blistering sun, about 35 here and bit humid by the rivers. Restaurants line the riverbank overlokhng the busy river with riverboats plying their trade everywhere, and farmers growing crops anywhere not to vertical on the Medkong shores.
Sorry about typos, google blog doesn't spellcheck! or I haven't found it...
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