Laid back Laos
Laos is the wonderfully laid back member of South East Asia. It is one of those countries that you travel in not to see huge tourist attractions but to feel the culture and wonderful warmth of the people. Probably one of the the most interesting places is Luang Prabang. An UNESCO protected city that is being wonderfully restored.
The ancient royal city is surrounded by mountains at the junction of the Mekong and its tributary, the Khan river. In the centre of the city is Mount Phousi with stunning views of the surrounding temples and hills. There are hundreds of Buddhist temples and even more young Buddhist monks wandering about the city. Its great to sit at one of the pavement cafes and watch the goings on.