Mekong Writing Marathon  Dec  Nov 28 – Dec 11  Take your pick – come for one or two weeks (stay for 2 weeks, get $300 off overall price).

Mekong Writers Lab,  Nov 28 – Dec 4

Mekong Meditations,  Dec 5-11

Mekong Writers Lab, Nov 28 – Dec 4 (arrive Nov 27)

Spend a week in the charming heritage listed town of Luang Prabang, at the wonderful Apsara Hotel,  head down, bum up, writing your heart out. Days will be spent writing, early evenings we will read, afternoons, a one on one consultation on your manuscript with yours truly, and in between, walks along the Mekong with visits to temples, French villas,  local restaurants and the fabulous night market.

 

Price: $1995AUD ($150 off if you want to stay on  another week and join Mekong Meditations).

Early bird $1615 pay in full by May 1, 2012.

This price does not include airfare, lunches, dinners, alcohol, excursions, travel insurance or any other expenses incurred during the course.

Payment: a non-refundable deposit of $500 will secure your place. Full payment due by Sept 30 (please read terms and conditions at the bottom of this page).

Booking: contact Jan for payment method and information sheet.

 

FLIGHTS - flights in daily from Bangkok, Siem Reap, Chiang Mai with Thai Air, Bangkok Air and from Hanoi on Vietnam Air. Visa on arrival. $30US

A cheaper option is AirAsia from Melbourne, Gold Coast or Perth to Kuala Lumpur, overnight stay in Airport Tune Hotel then KL to Vientiane where you can pick up a same day flight with Lao Airlines www.laoairlines.com to Luang Prabang (Don’t confuse it with Lao-Airlines which apparently is a ticket scam).

WEATHER – November, December falls in the dry season with cooler temps between 25 – 30 C. It can get cold at night so bring some warm clothes as well.

ACCOMMODATION - Our group booking at The Apsara overlooking the Nam Khan River  has ‘stately colonial rooms boasting a contemporary style’. Set in a quiet spot in the old part of  town there are plenty of walkable landmarks to visit in between writing stints.

DAILY ITINERARY

Arrive 27 Nov -  7pm – Welcome dinner at L’Elephant.

Nov 28, 9am – Morning meeting, kickstart meditation, free writing time for the rest of the day.

4pm – 5pm – Individual mentoring session with Jan (timetable will be arranged on day 1)

5.30 – 7pm -Readings (excerpts, works in progress, feedback sessions)

7pm – Dinner at a choice of restaurants or the night market

Depart 4 Dec   -   farewell breakfast (8am) and final meeting (9-11am)

(Or stay on for week 2 – Mekong Meditations, beginning 5 Dec)

LUANG PRABANG -  A Writer’s Heaven

The charming heritage listed town of Luang Prabang, where the Nam Khan River meets the mighty Mekong, in Central Laos, is the location for this long distance writing marathon.While the focus is on clocking up your writing miles, during your breaks there will be time for exploring buddhist temples, museums, galleries and local markets. On both sides of town, open air cafes provide the perfect place for writers to contemplate the powerful presence of the river and catch a spectacular sunset before browsing the night market with its array of antiques, Hmong embroidery and delicious Laotian food. There’s also fine dining in restaurants across town. For the length of this week you can be as social or as reclusive as you wish and as you hunker down into your writing, everything around you will become your writing inspiration.