Luang Prabang

Arrived in Luang Prabang 2 days ago after another harrowing bus journey.
Highlights of bus journey:
-Multiple people vomiting into plastic bags and then throwing the plastic bags out the window. Had to quickly shut my window a few times to prevent the said bags from flying into me.
-Some random young guy got on the bus with a humongous rifle. Why? Not sure, but he was insistent that he have the gun slung over his should for the entire 11+ hour bus ride.
-Villagers on the bus. We stopped in multiple villages along the way and picked up whole families of villagers. When all the bus seats filled up they simply took plastic stools and placed them in the aisles for extra seats.

Luang Prabang:
This is a very small town, I believe about 26,000 people live here. It is one of the most lovely towns I have been it. Luang Prabang (and Laos in general) has a very laid back vibe. The people don't seem to take anything too seriously and have a great sense of humor. People get up early and work during the morning, then seem to just take it easy during the afternoon and night and drink lao-lao (a 50% alcohol whiskey made from sticky rice.) Anyway, in Luang Prabang orange robed monks roam the streets from the many monasteries and temples around town. People also wake up early in Laos to give alms (sort of like a hand out) to the monks. The monks walk around very early (before the sun even rises) and carry around a bowl and the people come out of their houses and put money or rice into the monk's bowls. Very interesting to see.
Besides having a great atmosphere, Luang Prabang is set in a stunningly beautiful place. It is tucked amidst mountains, surrounded by lush palm trees and other plans. There seems to be this perfumy air about the place. You can wander the banks of the Mekong river and see villagers farming on the other side. Amazing!
Everything in Laos closes at 11:30pm, so it's been lots of early nights.
I am loving Laos so much! It reminds me alot of Nepal in many ways. The villages we passed on the bus are very similar. Also, some of the villagers' facial features reminded me of Tibetan features. Laos is very undeveloped, similar to Nepal (outside the main cities.) Also, the country side is very similar. Very mountainous, winding roads that take forever to cover, lush lowlands, jutting crags. Beautiful!!