Luang Prabang, Laos, still.

It rained most of the night, solid rain, it will be good to wash the early dry season dust and grime off plants, the streets and roof tops.

The morning is The Navigators reconnaissance mission for serious retail activity in our last two days. She buys some things to test her negotiating skills, tick, the market for bags, tick, and remarkably no shoes (none sold here that’s why). Table runners also get a full workout, initial indications are she may have cornered the table runner market. She’s still debating cotton versus silk.

We meet at Ock Pop Tok shop to get the pink tuk tuk to our afternoon appointments doing craft out at The Living Craft Centre on the Mekong just on the edge of town. I’m doing silk weaving on a loom, The Navigator is doing natural dying and Hbum is doing batik piece. It’s a beautiful setting on the Mekong, a collaboration between an English woman and a Lao woman to work with local silk weavers. We had a wonderful afternoon, but we were all pretty weary. Telegram Sam ( aka Dave) chilled at home reading his book and joined us later. The Lao weavers and craft team are wonderful, softly spoken, gentle with a dry sense of humour, and sooo patient fixing my stuff ups.

We get the pink tuk tuk back in the rain and retire to BOUANG Asian Eatery for dinner. An excellent meal, fusion SE Asian food and the same smiles and excellent service.

The Navigator does a run of the Night Market where she pushes the scarf and cotton pants market up – you know the old economic thing demand v supply!

It’s been a long day!!!!

Ciao from Lao

Pauolo