The new Laos Botanical Garden

Yesterday we set out over the Mekhong for our long awaited visit to the new Botanical Garden which has recently opened after an 8-year incubation phase. It's a great initiative where they're planting trees, researching ethno-botany, creating plant collections, teaching permaculture and other good things. It's also a stunningly beautiful, peaceful site. www.pha-tad-ke.com

The far bank of the Mekhong is wooded and largely undeveloped, with small villages and dirt tracks.

The 15-minute boat trip to the garden is in a lovely scaled-down slow-boat. I love the boat Captain's dining chair.

The plants in the botanical garden are labelled neatly with Latin, English and Lao names plus medicinal, culinary or other uses.

Taking a rest on the hot and sweaty 45-minute trek through the jungle up to the limestone cave where the Lao Princes prayed to the spirits.

Many of the existing trees have been retained and interplanted with new specimens in the arboretum.

One of the areas is planted up with trees and shrubs used for traditional dyes.

Another area has fibre sources. This is cotton.

It's been beautifully laid out with paths and signage. A huge amount of work has gone into this project.

I had a private tour round the compost area! My special interest!

The boat trip to get to the garden is wonderful.

That golden hilltop stupa is Mount Phousi in the centre of Luang Prabang.

Meanwhile back in Luang Prabang ... some wats.

And here's our friend and housekeeper Mrs Noi cutting bamboo leaves in the garden. She's been patiently teaching us a bit of Lao!