luang prabang and it don't stop

We arrived in Luang Prabang, by miracle of overnight bus. We've decided in this budget travelling of ours that overnight travel is the way to go, because you combine the costs of travel and sleep. Novel idea, right? In this case, maybe not.

The busses in Laos are crazy, at least ours was. It was loaded to the gills. The last row in the bus was top to bottom with luggage. There were sacks of rice in the isle that you would walk down to get to your seat, and the top of the bus had an insane amount of junk. Boxes, luggage, motorcycles, you name it, we had it on top of our bus. When we'd roll over a bump, crack or pothole (which was all the freaking time) the whole ceiling would bounce up and down, inducing that what in the world were we thinking when we didn't take the v.i.p. bus feeing.

The best moment was not the breakdowns, which were frequent - maybe 3, maybe 4. It was when our bus driver decided to get the party started with some music. He turned it on a few hours into the journey, at a bearable level. Someone behind us shouted something, and I'm not sure if they liked the music or wanted the peace and quiet that we did, but the driver decided the former and cranked it.

We finally made it to Luang Prabang unharmed, and got a cheap and clean guesthouse for $4 a night. After a nap and some black black lao coffee, we good as new.

Off to Tad Se Waterfalls, dinner and a movie at 'Le Cinema,' which is run by a nice English guy who provides dvds, comfy private rooms and beer for you to enjoy. We watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and mr. depp's performance was fantastic.

We wandered home past the Royal Palace, through the night market, discovering vegetarian buffets on the street for 50 cents a plate. We vow to never eat at restuarants here again.



The picture makes it looks less crazy.



Tad Se Waterfalls.



Kittie Lao.



Night market. Nice sky.