Siem Reap, Cambodia to Luang Prabang, Laos

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Siem Reap, Cambodia to Luang Prabang, Laos

April 1

We had the morning and early afternoon free. We got packed and relaxed until lunch. We hadn’t eaten at the restaurant at the hotel yet (except for breakfast), so we had lunch there. It was OK, but we preferred our meals on Pub Street.

restaurant

Tempura Vegetables

fish curry and rice under the palm cone

our server

front patio

Sam had arranged for us to have a late checkout. Upon checkout we were given cold towels, cold water, then grapes and finally Cambodian scarves. Sam wanted photos of all of us and the staff at the hotel all wanted to be in it. Even the Chef came out. We wanted our driver Ty in the picture, so we waited while he loaded our bags in the van. Just an awesome experience in Cambodia. The people as a whole were amazing and kind.

Chef, Ty, Sam, Greg, Annette, Tom, Cathy, & 2 staff & manager

It was an hour drive to the airport that was built by the Chinese and 4 only months old. We had a bit of time for some last minute shopping at the airport to use up our Cambodian Riel.

We had talked about whether Jason at China Highlights had checked in with us to see how things are going and he hadn’t yet. I didn’t expect him to as our guides were sending photos and in contact with him.

Then, a couple of days ago Jason contacted us to let us know that our elephant day in Medan was canceled due to post Ramadan parties. He first offered a massage and a cooking class which the 4 of us nixed. Second, he offered a BBQ lunch and bat cave, again we said no. Lunch was already included in the day we had planned, and we have seen tons of great bat caves before. I looked at our schedule and we had a half day free in Ubud, Bali and I suggested elephant bathing and riding there. In hindsight, we wondered if our surprise High Tea was to help soften the blow, since he contacted us later in the day. LOL

While at the airport Jason contacted us and said we would need to skip the 3 things on the schedule which I was prepared to do as they were within walking distance from the hotel, and we could work them in on our own on other days there. So, we agreed to do bathing and elephant riding instead, which takes up most of the day.

We traveled from Siem Reap, Cambodia at 5:00p and arrived in Luang Prabang, Laos at 6:30 and were met by Kham and Kao and it was a short drive to Burasari Heritage hotel.

It was an old hotel and really not one of our favorite hotels on the trip, but it was walking distance to many things around Luang Prabang.

signs to use depending on if you want service or not

dinner at their restaurant

It was late and we grabbed dinner at the hotel. We had tasty Lao food and we got ready for our 5:45 in the morning meet time see the Monks collecting their Morning Alms.

Tomorrow, we have a full day of touring including the morning alms, city tour & waterfalls.

Magnets bought in Cambodia.