Luang Prabang - Laos

This is the most beautiful place. Like Chang Mai in Thailand without the crowds, like the Gili Islands in Lombok but in a town. The mountains which surround the town, nestled in a wide bend in the mighty Mekong, reflect the sunshine on every colour from the gold temple splendour to the bright flower filled streets, a deep hue shimmers in the heat.

Despite the ‘wake’ –apparently as mark of respect everyone gathers for three days in the house of the deceased to keep the soul company, I could see the coffin at the rear of the open house front whilst the party goers watched television-I slept like a log (or maybe because of the ‘company’, who knows!). Awaking refreshed to a breakfast of a banana pancake the size of which I have never seen the like, a fluffy tribute to a dinner plate, plus mango shake and Laos coffee which is thankfully not as bitter as Vietnamese, my normal equilibrium was restored.

In keeping with my normal instincts, I eschewed the wat (temple) tour (32 in not many square kilometres, every other person here is an orange clad Buddhist monk) and borrowed a rickety bicycle to explore. Wide streets, friendly smiles and the wonderful colours of the riverbank, fresh air from the mountains despite the 30 plus degree heat, a fabulous contrast to Hanoi’s city chaos.

As pics show, the river is the lifeblood of the town, everyone from monks to villagers wash/bath here, it is criss crossed with bamboo bridges to temples towering up the hillside, lined with both tourist restaurants and local haunts-I enjoyed a superb mango shake for the grand total of 6,000 kip: (50,000 is about £3.75, so not very much)-its soo cheap here.

Monks in the River

Bridges everywhere

The evening sunset was best summed up by the words of a fellow traveller, who as the sun finally disappeared behind the peaks, turned to me and said ‘what a show’. Monks, tourists and residents alike watch in silence as the golden orb slips down and a scarlet haze descends over us.  Long narrow boats laden with locals carrying their wares chug across the slow moving waters, fishermen wade into the darkening seas to pull up nets. 

Sunset over the River

As night falls the main thoroughfare becomes a gentle paced market. Wandering through in peace with no pressure to buy is a sheer pleasure. Any and everything can be found here; so cheaply it will be hard not to spend money, only the limited space and weight in my rucksack prevents, which is a shame!

Supper was a delicious vegetarian buffet for 10,000 kip. I like this place!!