Going up river...

Heading out of Nong Khiew for the day...

...past the floating restaurant...

...the blue of the boats is so beautiful...

...the limestone karst near the town but we are headed up to "heart of darkness" territory!

With the clouds that come and go...

Happy times were had!

So many happy memories for our family from our time at school.

Malylath teaching Cream to knit...

Wonderful play...

Painting...

Skipping - something I spent some donated money on was buying ropes for skipping which has been a massive hit!

The wonderful Malylath telling "the enormous radish (turnip!)" passa Laos - in Laos...

She did it so beautifully that I asked her to do it again for the whole school!

I'm happy just looking at the photo!

So many wonderful memories...

I've finished working...

Shh, we are resting...

..between swims that is!

Friends...

...like Bunthavy...

...will be missed.

Farewell dinner with the school staff...

Heading up for dinner...

So much lovely food with so many lovely folk...

We were so spoilt by all the staff - we have presents coming out our ears! The lovely Poum who gave the boys the tshirts they are wearing.

Kinyin photo bombing our staff photo...

Such a lovely last night - we all had a wonderful time in Luang Prabang.

We will miss so many things.

Off to Nong Kiew tomorrow for some relaxing before heading to Myanmar!

We are so excited to be visiting some Steiner Kindergartens in Myanmar! They are remote and poor - I have saved most of the money people donated to use in these schools.

More news on this to come...

Wimitja reading the menu...

Random unexplainable pictures...

The dog on ice gets me!

Why puzzles and small children are a bad match...

...lunch time play...

Ock pop tock - dying day

Kinyin and Nanie did a workshop today at Ock Pop Tok - or East Meets West.

They dyed a scarf using plants from the garden at the centre.

A beautiful silk scarf. Nanie did half and Kinyin did half.

Then afterwards a rest in the hammock and a beer for Poppa.

The view from the lower cafe deck...

All along the Mekong...

Followed up by pineapple with pineapple ice cream on top! 

Kinyin chose that over silk worm poo tea! Wimitja and I joined the three of them after school.

Wimitja lying back with a pineapple and mint smoothie!

Ice tea for me! Happy days!

Pottery Village with Wimitja

The pottery village is over the  Mekong river so we caught the  car Ferry across with  our bikes.

The Pottery village was about 3 km away from the Ferry in 30 degrees and near %100 humidity.  Wimitja was surprised that I was covered in Sweat at the end.

The wheel  is spun buy hand - it is a near ground level.

Spun pots

On this side of the river is a line of Wats temples - we visited an old Wat which over looks the Luang Prabang

What is missing from this photo is 3 novice monks about Wimitja size carrying 19 Kg water containers on their backs up the stairs. Wimitja was amazed that boys his size could carry such heavy weight - so am I

Buddha from the Wat

This is the flag on the Ferry - lots off old Soviet Union era flags in vintage states displayed on public and private buildings. 

 Home again

Drying Bael fruit    -  see link  for more information
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegle_marmelos

another photo of Luang Prabang from the Wat  -  you can start to see how the town is surrounded by mountains

Wats, croissants, euchre and family...

...our day was another delight...

...second breakfast at the French bakery followed by two rounds of six handed euchre...

...then pottering around some Temples...

...quiet cuddles in lovely spots...

...waiting (mostly) patiently while people look in shops...

...then into the tuk tuk...

...another special family day.

Parking Tickets - Valet Parking - 32 cents

Just a post about  about valet parking at the markets. We ride a bike to local markets and always park our bikes in the motor bike parking area. Just a very simple system that means people have a safe place to park usually sheltered from the elements and maximum number of bikes in the smallest area.

 I love that each  motor bike and bicycle are given a wooden ticket one attached to bike and the other given to the rider. After you finish your shopping just hand over your wooden marker and 2000 kip approx 32 cents Aust and your bike is given to you and you are on your way.  No expensive parking machines - affordable and  a system that just works without fuss.

 Each wooden number is attached to the handle bars of each bike

 My copy - not sure what would happen if you lost it !!!