Wrong .... After the major service in preparation for this trip it got worse. And worse. Until eventually the engine was fuel starved after only 100km from tank full in the last week or so. Fortunately second tank is ok.

To confuse. The major service included draining some water out of the separator and replacing the manual prime pump which had a small leak.

This is a victorious photo of tank 1/3 full and 270km without fuel starvation. Happiness.

Basically diagnosed the problem as air getting into the system through either the water separator / filter or the steel pipe and connections crossing the chassis. Or both. The 270km was achieved with a pipe direct from tank to changeover valve.

Now we have a working fuel system we can methodically mess around with various combinations. Hopefully reintroducing the filter (its there for a reason). No chance of spares for quite a while.

Good news was that starting the following morning was also fairly instant. Pre-fix it would take a few turns to start on the bad tank.

Some businesses in the town have made a feature of old bombs. Including the tourist info center.

The Mine Action Group maintains an office in the town.

We've seen several different crops spread out on mats alongside roads. This is rice. 

Its a UNESCO World Heritage Listed town. With an international airport.

It seems that the center of town is almost completely guest houses and restaurants.

We climbed the hill in the center of town. Phou Si Mountain is at least 30m high.

It allowed a view of St Patrick's footprints.

On Phou Si is an imprint of Buddha's foot. About 2m long.

We needed the litre of water we'd carried up.

The National Museum in Luang Prabang didn't.

There's a couple of photos of the outside below.

It was originally the palace of the local king, removed by revolution in 1960s. Its a large 10 or so roomed residence.

It contains material objects that the king, queen and children used. Thrones, bedrooms, reciption room, dining room are intact.

Couldn't find the loo or the kitchen.

Not a lot about the culture or how the power base was maintained. Lots of "do not touch" signage. Interesting nevertheless.

Hidden away in a display cabinet was one of those ivory carved concentric spheres (Chinese puzzle balls). The most we've seen previously was around 10 spheres (Mombasa 1976). According to guide this one had up to 30. Highest recorded, about 42 apparently.

Its claim to fame is really the large number of well preserved wats.

We enjoyed the town itself. Relatively well looked after.

One of the few times we've simply stopped and relaxed.

Must do it more often.

There's a continual flow of people from one side to the other. No bridge, so all in ferries.

This mob weren't hungover, just forgot their umbrellas against the sun.

The boat has an inboard motor, unlike the longtails further South.

It looked like a hardware store.

Over to you!

Just happened to come up behind this elephant transporter.

We passed a hydro scheme in process of being built.

Probably the very slow progress they were making.

These people must have been there a few days. There was washing hung out.

Most breakdowns have been marked by broken branches on the road. This one put the old engine block to use.

They had another block at the rear of the bus they were rebuilding.

Endless hills.

Not sure what it is but its harvested from the side of the road.

Having a wash or a shower is a very public affair. 

The road from Luang Prabang to Oudomxai was reasonably smooth, apart from broken up potholed bits, about every 200m. Our average speed was about 25 km/hr. Made for a very long tiring day.

North of Oudomxai the road improved. A very solid Chinese construction. These roadworks were about the last couple of km to complete the improvement. 

Field implements over the shoulder, other things hung off the back.

This is a toll gate. We'll drive through it tomorrow on the way to China.