To Laos!

We spent a lazy morning reading and blogging before heading to the airport to catch our flight to Luang Prabang, Laos. We were told that the busses and boats to reach this little town from Chiang Mai are hell on wheels and take three days, a luxury we don’t have, so we opted for the cheater way and flew, hassle free. Our lunch boxes on Laos Airlines even said “You’re safe with us!”

After getting our visas, we were waiting in line with a taxi and decided to group up with the three English people in front of us for a cheaper taxi fare. This turned out to be one of the greatest decisions we have made! We ended up staying in the same guesthouse in Luang Prabang after Matt successfully communicated with our non-English speaking taxi driver. Matt’s friend had recommended that we go to Utopia at least once while we were in the city, so with nothing better to do, we set off with Matt, Frank, and Lauren to find Utopia. Our wild goose chase led us all over the city, but it was definitely worth it!

Luang Prabang is an incredibly laid back town in northern Laos that has a very distinct French influence: from the colonial architecture to the crepe stands and the bakeries serving fresh coffee on every corner, this could easily be a “third world France”. And it was fantastic! Everyone in Laos is even more friendly than in Thailand, and the fact that the little oasis is nestled right on the Mekong River with towering limestone formations on all sides makes it one of the best places we have ever seen!

The vibe of Luang Prabang is neatly summarized in our evening turned into night at Utopia. With the intent of staying for just one drink at the very well hidden bar/restaurant/volleyball court, we ended up staying for over five hours, drinking, eating, and getting to know each other. It was a blast! Utopia is perched high on bamboo flats over looking the smaller river that feeds into the Mekong just north of town, and the food and local beer and company couldn’t have been better!