Girl with parasol

Looking out the airplane’s window, I could tell Lao’s former royal capital of Luang Phabang would be one of those places I instantly loved. Nestled at a confluence of rivers among dramatic forested hills, its setting is striking, marred only by the haze of slash and burn agriculture. The town itself is quaint and traditional, with temples and French colonial architecture everywhere.

I didn’t have much time for exploring today, but there will be plenty of time for that. Too much, I’m worried. While it is a pleasant place, there isn’t much to do here.