Luang Prabang wins for favorite city in Laos...which just proves that Dean and I are getting old (since we did not pick the party town- Vang Vieng!) It is set at the confluence of the Nam Khan and the Mekong River. The town is full of color.....tree's full of flowers, the burnt sienna robes of the monks and the gold and scarlet wats. There is a defininite French influence...cafes, bakeries and French provincial architecture. Above is an Inn/restaurant down the street from our guesthouse.
Our first morning we took a long walk. The wats here are incredible...meticulously cared for. The best thing for a young village boy is to become a monk. They are given a good education. School is not provided here....you must pay for it.
We wandered into the fresh produce market....it went for blocks! It is not polite to take photo's without asking...so we couldn't "snap away"...but it was soooo hard not to! We saw all kinds of crazy things....one stand had a "leg and hoof"...I think it once belonged to a cow?
Fish on a stick anyone? We have become vegetarians on this leg of the trip. I have seen way to much meat sitting in the sun with flies buzzing around it. It is never refrigerated...usually it is kept in a glass case....keeping it nice and warm...yummy. The dietitian in me sometimes wants to scream....;)
In the evening we headed up to Phu Si...which is a 100m high hill with a temple at the top. It is at the center of town...and the sunset view is legendary. The climb up is sweat inducing....as it says on the staircase...only 190 more steps to go! This 90+ degree heat is turning us into blobs.
The view from the top, the Nam Khan river side....the hills are gorgeous. Smoke from the burning fields (slash and burn agriculture) can make the valley very hazy....but it also makes for a pretty sunset!
The other side....view of the Mekong River. Lot's of slow boats cruising up and down.
After dinner we wandered through the Handicraft night market. Here you will find silk scarves and wall hangings, silver, bags, bamboo lamps, etc. One of the more peaceful markets in Laos so far. We are leaving Luang Prubang to catch the only "slow boat" to Nong Khiaw...so there will be a Luang Prabang Part two! Much more to explore!
Luang Prabang wins for favorite city in Laos...which just proves that Dean and I are getting old (since we did not pick the party town- Vang Vieng!) It is set at the confluence of the Nam Khan and the Mekong River. The town is full of color.....tree's full of flowers, the burnt sienna robes of the monks and the gold and scarlet wats. There is a defininite French influence...cafes, bakeries and French provincial architecture. Above is an Inn/restaurant down the street from our guesthouse.
Our first morning we took a long walk. The wats here are incredible...meticulously cared for. The best thing for a young village boy is to become a monk. They are given a good education. School is not provided here....you must pay for it.
We wandered into the fresh produce market....it went for blocks! It is not polite to take photo's without asking...so we couldn't "snap away"...but it was soooo hard not to! We saw all kinds of crazy things....one stand had a "leg and hoof"...I think it once belonged to a cow?
Fish on a stick anyone? We have become vegetarians on this leg of the trip. I have seen way to much meat sitting in the sun with flies buzzing around it. It is never refrigerated...usually it is kept in a glass case....keeping it nice and warm...yummy. The dietitian in me sometimes wants to scream....;)
In the evening we headed up to Phu Si...which is a 100m high hill with a temple at the top. It is at the center of town...and the sunset view is legendary. The climb up is sweat inducing....as it says on the staircase...only 190 more steps to go! This 90+ degree heat is turning us into blobs.
The view from the top, the Nam Khan river side....the hills are gorgeous. Smoke from the burning fields (slash and burn agriculture) can make the valley very hazy....but it also makes for a pretty sunset!
The other side....view of the Mekong River. Lot's of slow boats cruising up and down.
After dinner we wandered through the Handicraft night market. Here you will find silk scarves and wall hangings, silver, bags, bamboo lamps, etc. One of the more peaceful markets in Laos so far. We are leaving Luang Prubang to catch the only "slow boat" to Nong Khiaw...so there will be a Luang Prabang Part two! Much more to explore!
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