A Waterfall that brought to mind The Pink and White Terraces.

Written 6th December 2012

This photo is of Steve having a bright idea.

The evening we arrived we had a quick look around the night markets.

And I discovered one of my new favorite drinks, ice blended with lemon juice, mint leaves, and honey. YUM!

We decided to stay in Luang Prabang for two full days and the first day we spent relaxing mostly and enjoying the European feel of the town.

We ate by the river.

We walked up to Phu Si where there is a temple at the top of a hill. Unfortunately we timed it badly and went up just before sunset which is the time recommend in all the guide books.

It was a bit like being at a concert and the sun set was on the stage.

There was a nice view of the town from up there though on the sides where the sun was not putting on it's show.

At the top they were selling poor little sparrows in cages so that people would buy them to free them! Poor little things. You can see them in the little cages in the photo below. 

This photo shows how many steps there are (328).

After that we explored the night market which was overflowing with goods. 

Those are real snakes in alcohol!

We bought a few christmas presents although in Asia you would have no idea christmas is coming. We had dinner there too, you could get a vegetarian buffet for 10 000 kip which is about NZ$1.50!

You can also get any fruit you want blended up into a shake (or Oreos!)

 The following day we decided to go to the waterfall.

It wasn't at all what we were expecting. You caught a tuk-tuk or van out there. At the start of the walk to the waterfall there was an enclosure where they have bears who have been rescued.

 You walk on through old trees and come to the first of the pools that cascade down from the waterfall.

They are filled with an ice blue water, it really is a remarkable colour.

We walked up the right bank of the waterfall - we looking up river (it is not so commonly tread).

When we got up to the main waterfall we were still really impressed. It's very big. We then climbed up a track that went right to the top and sat and swam in the pools there.

It was like a natural infinity pool!

It was a bit freaky looking over the edge down the waterfall. But you could't fall down because there was a kind of fence there.

Here is us standing at the bottom of the main waterfall.

After we had cooled down we climbed back down and walked along the left bank past all the lovely pools. They really made me think of pictures I had seen of the pink and white terraces, although obviously not pink and white!

Can you se why they remind me of photos I've seen of the pink and white terraces?

Here's a painting of the pink and white terraces...

Painting of the Pink Terraces, with the White Terraces in the distance, by John Barr Clarke Hoyte (1835-1913). Alexander Turnbull Library.

I had another swim when we got back down to the first pool. It was really refreshing.

On the way back we were following this ute with the typical load of passengers in the tray!

We booked a mini van for the next day to take us to Vang Vieng.

This is what a receipt looks like in Asia! They are all handwritten like this.