Luang Prabang, Laos

Well, even though I would recommend the slow boat along the Mekong, arriving at our destination was welcoming. Yet another small town with people ready to offer transportation or accommodation. While it is difficult to say 'no' to such polite people who are trying to make a living, we opted for walking through the town and viewing a few guest houses before deciding where too stay. It is hard to decide where to hang your backpack before getting a fell for the town in which you are staying.

On our first day in Luang Prabang, we made our way to the hilltop in the center of town (Phu Si). The less than 400 steps to the top are easily worth the stunning 360 degree view at the summit.
















While we have posted some photos taken, they do not come close to the breathtaking panorama viewed with the naked eye! It is just beautiful. To help draw a picture - you have 2 converging rivers (Mekong and Nam Khan), the immediate surrounding hillside, the town encircling Phu Si, the numerous lush, green mountains embracing the town and a clear, blue sky above. No, it still doesn't paint the experience.

As with all places we have visited, we took time to walk around and attempt to see what life is like here. We definitely walked streets where the only faces we greeted were those of the locals - just the way we like it! Definitely not the touristy side of town. So many children getting out of school, playing games on the street-side and giggling hellos to us.

We visited the night market and availed of freshly bbq'ed fish (with its eyes and scales intact) and chicken with stir fried veggies. You can guess who ate the fish :) As in Thailand, there are many things you can purchase here however, the majority seem more local in style (less western influence). Very beautiful!

Below are additional photos taken around the town to give you an idea of where we are now.... stay tuned as there is more to follow from lovely Luang Prabang!

Here now are photos of Wat Xieng Thong. It's surrounding buildings have beautiful, colored glass mosaics - I zoomed in on a couple to show the detail. There is also a gold painted royal funeral chapel which houses the chariot used during the ceremony.

Here, the alms giving cermony occurs every morning at 6:00. John and I arose one morning to go and watch (from a respectable distance). Every morning the monks from all the wats walk through the city and receive food donations (sticky rice) from the people. It is not something in which foreigners should participate without fully understanding and believing in the faith and its practice.

We met a French lawyer during breakfast at our guest house - Pascal. Every day, we'd have detailed conversations about politics, Southeast Asia and yes, life. Super guy who cemented my decision to visit Cambodia. I had just finished reading Lucky Child - true story about the affect the Khmer Rouge had on the author's family. It is important to visit a country where its people have been through so much.

I must say that our guest house (Alounsavath) was great. It is co-owned by 2 sisters - one sister I assume did not speak English but Phon was very fluent. She was exceptionally hospitable without being intrusive. She enjoyed having conversations with us, giving us advise and assistance. One day, with breakfast, she embellished our dishes with a few Lao treats...very yummy. I asked how they are made - let's just say sweet rice, coconut and banana rolled into tiny balls and lightly fried are very tasty indeed! She asked her sister to pick up more the following morning as she felt it would be nice for us to have them for our 8 hour (wink-wink, nudge-nudge) bus ride to Vientiane. Sure enough, she presented them to us and would not accept money for them - a gift from her. She is a gem - and was very aware that certain westerners like to hug people as part of their departure ritual :D I fully endorse staying here for anyone travelling to this lovely city.