It's not one of those most popular tourists destinations. In fact, if you see it mentioned at all it is described as one of those 'undiscovered tourist destinations'. In fact, the reason I ended up here is because my trip to the Philippines got cancelled due to a typhoon that hit that country two days before my flight. I am in Laos, a country I know nothing about.

Laos is a communist country in Southeast Asia . It espouses Marxism and is governed by a single communist party dominated by military generals. They use the Laotian Kip (LAK) for money and there is about 7,995 kip to $1.

Laos is bordered by Burma and China to the north and Vietnam is to the east and Cambodia is on the southern border. Laos is landlocked, with no ocean ports. One third of the country's population lives on less than $1.25 per day, as of 2012. The population of the country is estimated to be about 6.5 million.

Laos generates electricity from it's rivers and sells the power to it's close neighbors, Thailand, China, and Vietnam. This is the primary strategy they have to develop the country.

Luang Prabang is a quaint and charming city that everyone seems to love once they visit.

My first stop was at a street cart selling Lao Coffee. It turns out the first coffee plants were introduced to the country by French colonists in 1915 . The rich soils in the southern part of Laos turned out to be ideal for growing the coffee plants. Laos produces 25%25 of the worlds coffee, and coffee is the 5th largest export of the country.

I bought a medium size cup of coffee and sat at the roadside table to see what this 'Lao Coffee' tasted like. Unlike in other asian countries, here you get a real sized cup of coffee. The coffee was very strong, much stronger than I usually like coffee. But, even though it was strong, it was not bitter. The reason I do not usually like strong coffee in America is because it tastes too bitter when strong. But, this smooth coffee is strong but not bitter at all. I love Lao coffee! No wonder they are proud of it!

There are over 30 Buddhist temples (Wats) in Luang Prabang. Not far from the hostel is the main hill in the city of Luang Prabang. It's called Mount Phousi and there are 355 steps to climb to the top. The Mekong river borders one side of it and the Nam Khan River runs along the other side . Halfway up the mountain on the winding stairs is the Wat Tham Phousi shrine. It features a big-bellied Buddha and also there is a reclining Buddha.

Vendors along the street at the bottom and along the steps to the top have wild birds in cages. You can buy one or more to release once you reach the top. It is for good luck.

At the top of Mount Phousi is the golden Wat Chomsi that was built in 1804. Once at the top you get a great panoramic view of the whole area. There is a cave with what the sign says is Buddha's footprint in it, also. This is one of the best places to watch either the sunset or sunrise over the Mekong River. There was even a machine gun up near the top of the hill.

The river is lovely to walk along any time of the day. I bought some grilled bananas on the street as I walked and they became a favorite treat of mine. They wrap them in banana leaves when you buy them, to carry along with you . The texture of the banana changes when they are grilled and they make great snacks.

While walking along the river I saw a bamboo foot bridge crossing to the other side. Some men are walking along the bamboo used as flooring joists and laying down bamboo mats for people to walk on. I guess the mats are removed at night and put down in the mornings. It's a rickety old bamboo bridge that has bamboo posts that are weighted down with baskets of rocks!

The bridge is not open during the wet season. I think it is even removed because the high water will wash it away. The bridge starts from the bank of Luang Prabang and goes to the other side of the river where there are villages and monasteries along the dirt roads.

Back in Luang Prabang, I stopped at a street cart and bought a coffee and banana shake. It was a delicious combination and a great way to relax at the end of this long day of sightseeing in Lao People's Democratic Republic.