Luang Prabang, Laos

We arrived a week ago from Chiang Mai in a 70 seater turbo prop that flew over the green mountains dividing Thailand from Laos, dropping down beside the Mekong river and over the small buildings and 32 golden topped temples, landing at the new airport here in Luang Prabang.  Visa on arrival was easy.  $35 U.S. and a photo gives you the privilege of visiting this delightfully charming town.  It is difficult to put to words how enchanting and peaceful and colorful it is here.  The Lao people are dignified and calm and gentle.  I have never heard one person raise their voice in anger.  They greet you with the palms of their hands respectfully together and a soft singsong "saibadee" welcoming you into their shops and their temples and their lives.  The streets are clean and the gardens well kept. Most cruise along on their cycles at a slow pace and laughter usually accompanies their voices as they drive past two or three to a cycle.  We arrived at our hotel, The Apsara, just in time to be greated by our gracious host Ivan, and a cool drink of lemongrass iced tea.  Our favorite room, number 8, with the old teak creaking floors and the tall windows with filigree carved wooden transoms, pale blue silk curtains, the soft bed and softer pillows felt like home.  Best of all, Nitza and Drew arrived an hour after we did, and our long planned rendezvous in this magical part of the world began.