There was just enough time for me to get up early to watch the monks pass by one last time.  I then took a wander to the end of the street to take another look at the Mekong River and the Viewpoint Cafe, where we’d been the night before.

Then there was the “problem” of having a few more kip in my purse.  Time for that last minute shopping!  There was a small shop further up the road selling goods that were repurposed from Hmong clothing.  Clare and I chose a wall hanging and some cushions covers, each with fabric that combined indigo batik and embroidery.

Then back to the airport!  It was weird saying goodbye to Luang Prabang, and to Laos.  We’ve had such a wonderful time.  It was also sad to say goodbye to our friend Peter, who had shared a number of terrific experiences with us.  Hopefully we’ll see him one day in either Chicago or Kyoto – and there’s always the internet to help keep in touch.

The airport at Luang Prabang is so easy.  I really do enjoy a small airport, where things are straightforward and run smoothly.  We were in a slightly larger plane this time, maybe seating around 80 people.  Boarding and disembarking is easy with those numbers, even when it involves a walk across the tarmac and a climb up stairs that are closer to a ladder.

I had the window seat, and noticed the differences between Luang Prabang and surrounding areas as compared to what I could see as we approached Chiang Mai.  It’s two and a half years since we were last here, and it really did feel like flying into a modern city.  Immigration and customs took a little longer, the roads were hectic – but our tuk tuk driver did a superb job of both strapping all our luggage to the back of the tuk tuk and in navigating to our accommodation.

We stayed at Baan Boo Loo last time we were here, so it did feel rather a lot like coming home.  What was surprising to me was how much more construction had taken place over the intervening years and how rooms and suites in the accommodation section had been reconfigured.

I really do think that the photos speak for themselves.  We are upstairs, with two bedrooms, two toilets/bathrooms, a deep claw footed bath on the balcony, lounging areas on the balcony, and a massive shower room.  The facilities are all incredibly natural and beautiful.  The owner, Adisak, has a passion for using reclaimed timber and for antiques, and he managed to incorporate them beautifully throughout the property.

The main reception and common areas are now across the laneway in a lush jungle setting.  It’s really hard to believe we’re in the centre of the old city!  There is much to explore, and everywhere I turn there is another photo opportunity.

Louis, a long-term guest of Baan Boo Loo, recommended a restaurant in the main street called Hanging Feet.  We headed there for dinner and enjoyed a range of Thai foods while sitting traditional Thai style on floor cushions.  This restaurant also has an area where there are cut outs for your feet to dangle through rather than having to fold them up cross legged – we’ll hopefully get one of those tables next time!  It was clear from the number of young people that it was primarily a local restaurant rather than one aimed at tourists, which was reflected in a very reasonable prices and the amount of spice in the food.

On the way back from dinner Clare asked to try out a fish spa – she said she’d always been curious!  Stella was not keen, so Dan, Clare and I all took the opportunity to stick our feet in a tank of toothless garra rufa fish and have them suck off bits of dead skin.  It was a really strange feeling!  Definitely ticklish, but not unpleasant, and my feet felt amazing afterwards.  I think I might need to do it longer next time.  I think it’s more a fish pedicure than a fish spa!

Today we plan to wander around town and refamiliarise ourselves.  It already looks as though progress has been moving apace in the last two and a half years.  Then I’ll start thinking about what else we’ll do while we are here…

Wifi defeated me this morning – I wasn’t able to upload photos for my daily blog post. But here in Chiang Mai we have cable internet/wifi, would you believe! So from now on I have no excuse. Anyway, back to yesterday.

We really did need a bit of a rest day. The kids were feeling a bit of sensory overload, so Dan and I tag teamed and went out to wander the streets one after the other while the kids spent some time on the internet and playing games.

Dan came back from his first foray saying that I really needed to go and pay the morning market a visit. It’s a food market, mostly frequented by locals although unsurprisingly there are a fair few tourists wandering up and down as well. Fortunately for us we’d bought a book from Big Brother Mouse that explained the foods we were likely to encounter in the market. Foods like fried buffalo hide….and a myriad of other things that I’m pretty sure I’ll never have the courage to taste. Fortunately there were plenty of familiar items to take a look at as well. As usual, I’m constantly stunned by the lack of refrigeration. The fish was super fresh however – often live and swimming in an esky until someone requested it.

Luang Prabang is full of pretty little quiet side streets. They’re cool and lush, and are often full of galleries, cafes and interesting little shops. I could spend hours exploring, if only I had the time.

We’d come across this paper goods shops, and the girls enjoyed choosing some lanterns. There were a few photos of President Obama in the shop on display, so we assume that we were in good company!

And yes, we felt that we all deserved another massage.

Dan went off to the local temple for some chanting. I finally took the opportunity to purchase a few textiles from both Ock Pop Tok and the TAEC shop. So many beautiful handicrafts!

After an ice cream we met up with our American friend Peter, and headed up to the park alongside the Viewpoint Cafe, part of the Mekong Riverview complex. Peter was going to play his fiddle for the Riverview guests while they had wine by the river at 6.30pm, and we were privileged to attend as Peter’s friends. It was all highly civilised! Then we progressed to the Viewpoint Cafe for dinner. It was one of the most delicious meals we’ve had in Luang Prabang, made all the more delicious by the company and the sharing of stories.

So that’s almost the last of Luang Prabang! I’m typing this from Chiang Mai – but that’s for the next instalment!