Luang Prabang

Traveling to Luang Prabang was the most beautiful, albeit windy, road I've ever been on. The mountains are huge and completely covered in green with lazy fog meandering through the valleys. Descending into the town offered an equally awesome view of a chilled out town nestled between two rivers.

Yesterday I took a full day cooking class. The two chefs took our six person group to the market to explain the different meats, fruits, vegetables, animal skins, and rices to us. Then we went back to the kitchen and prepared two dishes for lunch - the Luang Prabang salad and a chicken vermicelli dish. I learned how to make Laos mayonaisse which is really good and have decided that I really need to invest in a wok. Then we took a tea break before starting three new dishes for dinner. Many of the meats are minced, which I'm not sure if I like or not, so I'll probabl adjust the recipes when I get home. But the curry paste we made was amazing and really simple. For thse of you from the Bay: it's almost like that jalepeno jelly we get at the Indian place at the farmer's market. Can't wait to make it for you guys! In the evening I rejoined the group to wade through the streets during a major rain storm.

Today we traveled about 34 kilometers outside of town to check out cave. The climb to the cave was really steep but absolutely gorgeous... very much like a tropical Dipsea trail. And the waterfall was perhaps one of the best I've seen. The water was crystal clear and the perfect temperature to enjoy after our heated hike. The fish kept eatting our feet and legs but it was so beautiful I just didn't want to get out!

Tonight Carly, O2, and I are getting on a bus to the Laos/Thai border and then on to Chiang Mai. It will be the last leg of my trip in Southeast Asia... I've heard great things and am very excited!