I have to take back some "prejudice". The airport of Vientiane, in addition to the international section is also a part-Domestic and is a better bus station. Our flight to Luang Prabang has been brought forward spontaneously by one hour, thus we come just in time to Hatscher to direct to the airfield and in the then to rise seems not too old and rickety propeller machine. A gentle lift and a nice, short flight later, on beautiful landscape we have arrived to be greeted with an all-day downpour. Anyway, we have already decided to stay here a few days and only on 30 December directly by bus to drive back to Vientiane.
Luang Prabang, to monarchical times until the 70's, the residence of the Emperor Lao is magical. Just 30,000 inhabitants, adorned with many colorful Wats hundreds of orange-heeled monks and novices. There are inevitably a lot to see and do. On the first full day "deal with" a number we Temple, including the Temple Mount Phou Si, the old imperial palace and enjoy the atmosphere of the main street with its vibrant night market and a myriad of smart-equipped cafes and restaurants - and we set the program for the next set two days. In the evening we visit a youth center, a dance and puppet theater that grew out of a social project. Here are consecrated at the beginning according to Buddhist custom ribbons and tied us for good luck for the new year around the wrist. Let us be happy :-).
Given that we move around 15km east of true in a jungle camp. I'm not a star, so I will not be brought out, too: We are here by tuktuk one hours went out to us to go into the natural environment of the resident elephants. Laos used to be called officially "Land of a Million Elephants" - are only a few thousand remained. Of whom are or were many long time as "animals" in the forestry sector, often under harsh conditions and tortured in use. Beneficial, however, the "work" they have: to tourists on their backs a tour of the area carry.
The initial skepticism (of cruelty to animals) is different in the two days with elephants and their supervisors clearly great enthusiasm. The animals are obviously great fun - and so do we. We ride first as a companion to a Royal Bank on the back, even then most of the neck, to feel a little Jurassic Park atmosphere and feed them with bananas, bamboo and sugar cane. We learn the most important commands and are supported at all from the "guardians" of the elephants, the mahouts, as well as our personal guide accompanies Pat.
In an Elephant "pause" we take a small transport boat down the Nam Ch'ien-river to the Tad Sae waterfall, which, while its size can not keep up with his Icelandic and Austrian colleagues, but knows how to impress different: About many small rocks and islets can be the waterfall into numerous small basins down to form "pools" in which one can also cool down excellently.
An all around great experience is rounded off by the little wooden hut where we spend the quietest night of the holiday - and the star surrounded by an impressive backdrop. The universe and came straight out of the new moon phase Erdtrabant never appeared to me in my life in three dimensions, I have never been so tied up like this. The infinite depth of space is here perceptible and tangible. Also in Central Europe are beautiful starry sky, but this is a category about it. It's different, it's fantastic.
swim the next day and we scrub the 40 to 60 years for women's elephant an early morning ride from the jungle-term elephant camp in Nam Ch'ien and break around noon with a heavy heart back to the city.
evening we meet us at the night market or with various textiles and blankets, and slowly work a lot of fun at Lao National Sports: action. Tomorrow begins the arduous, multi-part return home. Stay tuned :-)
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