21.10.12 - 23.10.12 Golf Laos, Oriental Hotel and Cooking School

21^st October Golf Luang Prabang Laos

Up at 6.00am to head off to golf which Im looking forward too. This will be the first time I have played with a caddy!

Arrive and get organized hire clubs and get my English speaking caddy.

There is no one here so perfect. I play pretty well and do love that she lines the ball up for me to putt and after 2 holes  she knows what clubs to give me!

I actually get 31 points in stableford which I cant complain about!

Take some photos of the hole on the Mekong River which is fabulous and I was so pleased that I didn’t go into it!! It was a par 3 and I landed on the  edge of the green, with  a photo to prove it!!

After my golf I headed to the pool then my last lunch of laap! My favorite meal here!

Later in the afternoon I had another massage from the wonderful Fon with the magical hands The best massage again! She used a  hot compress of herbs after massaging me on my body and it was amazing easing all my aches and pains! I want her back home!

Ito town for sunset and my last  wonder around. Back to the hotel for last dinner, a fabulous pork stew with vegetables, again a delicious healthy meal!

22.12.10 Back to Bangkok

A swim  early in the morning my last rice noodle with chicken breakfast , a leisurely morning before my flight. Again another  delicious meal on Bangkok Airways and this is economy!

Arrive in Bangkok again and this time at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

Room 720 arrive and the power is off for maintenance. The style is similar to the Ritz, old fashioned with impeccable  service. Stepping back in time!

I head out to Jim Thompson for fittings so not so worried about aircon. Then go to Paragon to see if they can fix my ipad. Getting tired and especially as they say go somewhere else. I think Ill take it home !

Back to the hotel and cross the river to their Thai restaurant and have a pretty ordinary meal.

23.10.12 Oriental Cooking School

Head down to the pool at 7.00am and it is a fabulous pool , have it all to myself and able to have a good swim. Its about a 30 metre pool.

Today is cooking school and again it is across the river a 2 minute ride! As luck would have it only 2 in the class.  Judy is American from Long Beach and delightful. On her way to Myanmar.

The class was great as we actually got to cook too. He did it first then we went to our bench and cooked it too! Got a certificate to prove it!!!

I ask her if she is going to the cocktail party tonight that I was invited too. She said no so I said why not come with me! We plan to meet at 6.00p.m

I head off for more fittings with Quintina who is near by. She is amazing and love what she has made for me and so inexpensive! Thank you Andie for the contact!

I then go to Jim Thompsons house getting a cab driver who want to take me to tailor and jewelry shops on the way!! I keep saying no!!

Love seeing his home which was really interesting.  Grab a taxi who has no meter and wants to charge me 180 Baht!! It cost me 73 to get there, so I get out!!  I might add that is only about $2.00!!!

Then get a driver who gets lost and Im telling him where to go even though I had given him the address in Thai! Oh well all in the day of a tourist!!

When I get back to my room there are a bowl of stunning flowers with a note apoligising for the trouble I had with my airconditioning!

Meet Judy at 6.00 and head to authors bar but my name not on the list! A lady comes out and asks if we are here for the nurse awards, no I said we are here for  the cocktail party I reply!

Yes got the dates wrong it was last night!! Oh well I suggest we go to Lebula 64 th floor for drinks and then we had dinner at Breeze. This is where I stayed before and will be going back there in a couple of days!

Judy and I chatted and can you believe it she set up Koala Blue for Olivia Newton John in America, plus she lives on 57^th Street in New York where my friend Cathy lives! Small world!

A great night!

Note high windows,!

Outside garden

The dear Manager of the Hotel

The airport Luang Prabang

Room 720 Oriental Hotel

View from my room

Cooking School

Judy and I with certificates!!!

Jim Thompson House

Oriental Hotel Foyer

Flowers from management

18.10.12 The Elephant Camp and Shanghai Lao Accommadation

18 th Oct Shanghai Lao  and  The Elephant Camp

After a pretty good nights sleep felt ready for today's adventure.

We head off about 8.30 am up the mountains along a dirt road. But the construction is enormous. They are building bridges making a huge highway through to Vientiane the capital.

 It will take a few years to build but will take off hours from the 12 hour journey it takes now. we arrive at the camp which is on the Khwan river. Phone is our guide here for the 2 days.

We have  mulberry green tea in a gazebo overlooking the river and get briefed for the day. Shown our luxury tent which is divine over looking the river , an outside shower ,  huge inside bath ,lovely balcony and beautifully decorated .

 We then head off on our adventure. Down the steep river bank to our luxury raft! Very quaint does have a loo, but I keep falling done a hole on the floor of it! A short ride across the river where we see our elephants crossing the river in the water.

 We then climb up a ladder to a landing and I'm first on! A bit scary, one foot on his head another on his back snd then onto the howdah. I'm with Sun.

 An 1.5 hr ride through the jungle, teak forest, with stunning views on the way.

 We get off at a stunning waterfall. The elephants go into the water and cool off then head off home

 We have lunch in a covered hut surrounded by lush jungle and the sound of rushing water. This is  rather divine.

Yummy lunch with wine! Now for our trek through the jungle.

The staff cut walking poles for us which I'm very grateful as due to the heavy rain yesterday it was very muddy and slippery.

 We walk up and down narrow tracks along the river which is pretty, cross it a few times on tree trunk bridges.

 Up and up the hills we go, it was a seriously good work out and I was sweating but not finding it hard which was pleasing for me.

Wew arrive at the top of a hill and a boy with a horse is there to take our backpack sdown for us!

We eventually get back to the Khwan river and our raft was waiting for us!

A half hour ride down the river was relaxing. Vegetables grown on the side of the river, long boats going up and down and fishermen fishing. Home, a shower, swim and now sitting on the verandah writing this listening to children laughing and singing in their long boat. Watching the sun go  down and the changing colours of the mountains across the river. It's so serene and beautiful and very romantic!

 BBQ dinner in our gazebo on the river shortly!

It funny my room is called inspiration  and here is the inscription

12thsept 1885

" creativity inspired, after midnight I started writing my notes"

This tent was built in memorial to Dr Neis. The theme describes his duty to issue a daily report of his journey through Laos, which he usually did after nightfall.

The inspiration desk in thi s tent reminds you of his duty and brings you back in time to this romantic era of explorers and pioneers .

A perfect room for me and uncanny that I got it!

Dr Neis was a surveyor, mapping the river, and it was here that at the  sight of the Elephant camp that he made his camp back in 1885!