Farewell to Laos - Final Interview

Our departure from Laos started out interestingly. If you have visited Faceboook lately you will note that I published a question that went something like this: "if they start taking your place apart while on the tarmac and the captain starts to argue with the maintenance guys, should you walk away??"....This is how the day at the Vientiane Airport started. With the propeller cap on the tarmac, I turned to Kristen and said, "I don't think we are leaving"....two hours later, they found us a new plane and we said farewell to Laos. We were not too upset to leave Vientiane - the capital city - notice that I have not written a dedicated blog to rave about the sites, food etc. We will leave it at "ordinary" BUT we cannot forget the beauty and fun had at our time in Northern Laos and Luang Prabang. So, as we did with Vietnam, here are the family members to give us their thoughts:

Joshua
Major Highlights?
Riding the elephants was great because you got to feed them in the end. The Tad Sae waterfalls were fun because you climbed up to the top of the waterfall, climbed down them and jump off them.

What are you bringing back?
I am bringing back a Beer Lao shirt.

Any stories you want to share?
One of the best part was going to the big temple on the top of the mountain. There were nice paintings. The food was good and I really liked the Laap.

Erica
Major Highlights?
The best part for me was riding on the elephants and feeding the elephants bananas and pineapple leaf.

What are you bringing back?
I am bringing back a wooden elephant that I bought at the Night Markets in Luang Prabang.

Any stories you want to share?
The hotel that we stayed in was fantastic and the staff were really nice. The fresh salted cashew nuts were nice as well.

Madeline
Major Highlights?
Riding on the elephants and swimming in the waterfall.

What are you bringing back?
I am bringing back some earrings for someone but I am not telling who.

Any stories you want to share?
That's all Dad. I don't have anything else to say.

And the parents….

Kristen
Major Highlights?
Luang Prabang, the town and surrounding temples. Bicycle riding around town. I had a really good cup of coffee - ice cappuccino and a cafe latte

What are you bringing back?
A beautiful skirt still to be put together and some gifts.

Any stories you want to share?
Seeing the same people in three places - at the elephants, in the airport and then again in Vientiane. It is a small traveller's circuit here.

Scott
Major Highlights?
Everything about Luang Prabang was great - the people, food, markets, temples - it was the highlight of the whole trip so far.

What are you bringing back?
Lots of Christmas pressies...stay tuned...

Any stories you want to share?
Riding the elephants in the mountains was pretty special. They are majestic creatures, gentle and so powerful. We all loved spending time with them and to do this amongst spectacular scenery just topped it off!

And to think we almost did not come here. We have now convinced a couple other families and couples to take a side trip to visit our friends in Luang Prabang - a yet undiscovered piece of the world that is very special.

Onto Cambodia!!