Luang Prabang 

Kerry has never met a mount, something or another, that she doesn't like. She found one here in Luang Prabang. 

Mount Phou Si is basically the small hill in the middle of Luang Prabang that everyone climbs, so of course we did too. 

It’s not a long hike, just a lot of steps, with little shrines along the way that make you slow down whether you mean to or not.

From the top, you get the full picture of the town wedged between the Mekong and the Nam Khan.

We went to a couple of more Wats and a bit watted out. However, there is always something interesting to see. 

Here we have a dragon boat, which may not seem so surprising. 

But, here we have the holiest of holy Volkswagen Beetles in a glass garage. One of the famous monks owned this, and it will sit here for thousands of years. 

We capped off Luang Prabang with a sunset cruise on the Mekong. It was really a nice time, and we met some Wisconsinites from Kenosha. We sat and chatted with them all night and enjoyed the most magnificent sunset. 

Monks on the shore of the Mekong.

Not our boat, but it looks like it. 

Our friends from Kenosha. Los Capitánes!!

Vientiane

Another city, another night market. This particular area of the night market has all you can eat hot pot or grilled seafood for $ 20.00 USD, all you can eat, no time limit. 

I guess alligator is seafood? Well, so are river prawns. 

Careful with the beer nuts..

Salty and crunchy as you would imagine.

Another day, another Wat.

We went back to the seafood place and had an amazing Hot Pot Seafood experience. We entered the outdoor restaurant and for $20.00 we got a hot pot and we could walk all around where they had fresh oysters, squid, sliced pork, vegetables, and other amazing things including fresh alligator or crocodile, I am not sure. 

When we first arrived, we had no idea what we were doing, and a couple of waitresses took pity on us and showed us the way. The food was amazing. We cooked it after all.

We went to the Laos Art Museum, and while pretty amazing, it's not finished and fairly weird. First, you have to walk across a lake to get to it. 

It is filled with reclaimed wood carvings. They are against clear cutting and have reclaimed wood that someone or many people have carved into beautiful sculptures.

This is the entry hall. 

These line the entry hall kind of like the National Statuary Hall. 

Then down to the lower floor on an elevator that is not functioning and dark. Also, I didn't mention that the whole place is dark. No lights on anything except for the lower halls. The big hall on the upper floor is completely dark, no light, no power. Not even in the bathrooms. 

On to the National Museum

Yes, the whole thing is practically empty except for this exhibit that explains the war where the American imperialists came and invaded, which was very interesting to see from their perspective.   

We also went to the Textile Museum.

Then we got sick for a day and a half (36 Hours) and moved on to Vietnam after adding another day to Laos and Changing the flight.