If you would like to read my full Laos travel blog click
on this link and start at "Our Introduction to Luang Prabang"

In March/April 2005 we visited Laos, one of the still truly quiet and unspoiled countries left on the map – certainly in SE Asia. From a tourism perspective, Laos perhaps suffers from being a landlocked country, from not having an Angkor Wat or a Taj Mahal, dramatic mountain ranges, pristine beaches, exciting nightlife or frenetic shopping. But on the other hand, the resulting lack of crowds and tacky exploitation of tourism is just what appeals to many visitors, and it is gradually carving out a niche for itself both with backpackers and with more affluent independent travelers. We easily fell in love with the place, and with its people, its culture and its tranquility.