Louang Prabang is a bit of a boom town. It's been aroudn for centuries, but
due to its remote location doesn't change very often.
In the 1930s, the French came to town and built it up a lot--lots of
shophouses, government buildings, houses, hospital, probably even the
drainage system in the streets.
Then nothing really happened for 60 some years. The place was left on its
own in the middle of nowhere, accessible mostly by boat.
In 1995 it became designated a UNESCO world heritage town. I'm not sure
which came first, that or the foreign aid, but it came, and now lots of
streets have been rebuilt, they've clearly put lots of effort into drainage
systems again, and are installing lots of septic systems. If you want to
help the developping world, don't worry abuot electronics. Figure out how to
build cheaper sewage and water treatment systems.
Then the tourists came. It's becoming more and more of a tourist town every
year. The main street in the old part of town is quite pleasant, but
dedicated to tourists.
Children still play at night, it's the first place I've really seen that.
Games like marbles, and throwing your shoe at a pack of cards, and badmitton
are all popular, in addition to the regular running around and screaming,
It will be an interesting place to see in five years, as most people now
have TV and computer games are easy to find.
Tomorrow I head north for a few days, I know not where. Perhaps Nong Khiaw
to start with, then probably back to the south.
Later,
Matthew