Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang or Louangphrabang is the former capital of Laos and a UNESCO World Heritage city.

On a strip of land where the mighty Mekong and Khan rivers meet, lies the Loatian city of Luang Prabang, with its atmospheric backdrop of misty lush hills. This fascinating city was the royal capital from the fourteenth century until the Lao monarchy was overthrown by the communists in 1975. Luang Prabang is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, in 1995 it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as the best-preserved city in south-east Asia.

Luang Prabang is celebrated for its temples and monasteries. Distinctive golden temple roofs dominate the old city, prayer flags flutter in the breeze and evocative gongs echo around the town. This city is also known for its Royal Palace (Haw Kham). It was built near the river in 1904 for King Sisavang Vong and his family, so official visitors could disembark from their boats directly below the palace and be received there.

The Crown Prince Savang Vatthana and his family were the last to occupy the palace as the monarchy was overthrown in 1975 and the Royal Family were taken to re-education camps. The palace is now a museum, and makes a fascinating visit.

Xiang Thong is the main street of the city, lined with traditional Lao wooden houses mixed with European architecture, reminders of the French Colonial era. Gilded roofed temples, decorated with mosaics and murals of the Buddha, sit beside nineteenth century shuttered windows and decorative balconies.

Strolling around this atmospheric city is a peaceful and uplifting experience, with its pretty streets shaded with palms and flowering trees. When you tire of temples and palaces, climb up Phou Si Hill to watch the sunset or enjoy a cool drink on the banks of the river. Shop in the bustling markets or visit one of the many monasteries.

Wat Xiang Thong is the oldest monastery in town and one of the most beautiful, the perfect place to soak up the serene and spiritual atmosphere that still pervades here.Luang Prabang has both natural and historical sites. Among the natural tourism sites, there are the Kuang Si Falls and Pak Ou Caves.

Tourists may also ride elephants. At the end of the main street of Luang Prabang is a night market where stalls sell shirts, bracelets, tea - suitable souvenirs. The Haw Kham Royal Palace Museum and the Wat Xieng Thong temple are among the most well known historical sites.

If visitors travel two hours up the Mekong river, they can stay at the Kamu Eco lodge. Traditional Laotian activities (fishing, rice planting/harvesting, archery and gold-panning) can be tried there, as well as a visit to a model village of the Kamu people, who are originally from Cambodia.

Chittagong

Bangladesh's second-largest city, Chittagong, is also its principal seaport - with almost all the country's imports and exports passing through its busy harbour. The city is also a major commercial and manufacturing centre that generates vast revenues for a generally poor country that only came into existence in 1971 (the independence of former East Pakistan being declared in Chittagong).




It is perhaps unfortunate that one of those industries - the extraordinary ship-breaking operations that take place on the shores of the Bay of Bengal rather than in a proper shipyard - have given Chittagong something of a negative image, for this dangerous business is definitely not on the agenda for visitors, who are not welcome in the vicinity of this polluting activity.

Actually, Chittagong itself is relatively clean, with plenty of green hills within its boundaries to offer relief from the bustle of city life. The highest point within city limits is the Batali Hill, with panoramic views of sea, port and city. There are a number of interesting old buidings, such as the East India Company's massive 18th century Court Building standing on Fairy Hill with a commanding bird's-eye view of the city.

Chittagong College is one of the oldest and most prestigious academies in Bangladesh. Chandanpura Mosque in the old city is a multi-domed architectural wonder. Baitul Falah is the largest masjid (mosque) in Chittagong. But for all its visible history, this is a boom city, with rapid development completely transforming its traditional face as endless new buildings shoot up to join those but recently completed.

The streets are clogged with traffic - buses, cars, scooters and rickshaws - and the inevitable beggars and hawkers swarm everywhere. Many visitors are almost relieved to leave the city for nearby beaches, or to journey into the unspoiled hinterland.

Many Chittagong natives speak Chittagonian, an Indo-European language of the Eastern Indic group. Many speakers consider their language to be a dialect of standard Bengali, the official language of Bangladesh. However, the two languages are not mutually intelligible, meaning that those who only know how to speak Standard Bengali will not understand Chittagonian speakers, and vice versa - normally the metric for languagehood among linguists.

There is, however, a dialect continuum between Chittagonian and neighboring dialects of Bengali, meaning that speakers of each neighboring dialect can largely understand each other, while speakers of more distant dialects cannot. Chittagonian has approximately 14 million speakers.According to the status of Top 100 Languages by Population by Ethnologue, Chittagong ranked in 67th Language of the world.

Transport in Chittagong is similar to that of the country's capital Dhaka. There are various bus systems, taxis, and as well as smaller 'Baby' or 'CNG' taxis which are basically tricycle-structured motor vehicles. Also, there are the traditional manual rickshaws which are very common.