Luang Prabang, Laos

This charming, magical and very zen like city is another UNESCO World Heritage site. There are 33 Vats throughout the old city and it seems there's another beauty around each corner or down a short alley.  Luang Prabang is situated at the confluence The Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers and the old city is a peninsula and comprises quite a small area.   Soon after arriving you start to walk at a very slow stroll and speak in hushed voices. There are signs at 'Vats' (not Wats as in other Buddhist countries so I'm not lisping) requesting no loud voices.  When you do hear the odd tourist talking loudly it's very jarring.  

First view of the both rivers from the foot of the street we stayed on. 

Foliage is beautiful here. 

Orchids are everywhere! 

So are young monks

 

One of the many Vats at sunset. 

  

Crossing the bamboo bridge to reach a weaving and papermaking village.  

Lots of give and sway on this bridge - what they do with bamboo is amazing.  

Looking across to Luang Prabang from other side of the river.  This is the month the farmers burn off their fields so there's a permanent haze in the air.  

Paper making village - paper drying in frames - some will be turned into lights like this

Looms are everywhere 

Made my first silk scarf purchase here. 

Monks heading to a Vat. 

Vat. There are so many I've already lost track of which beautiful Vat is which. 

Lovely small lanes in the old city of Luang Prabang 

Some with laundry 

Some with cooking pots steaming away over a wood fired brazier.  

Banana leaves and marigolds are the favoured kind of offerings here in LP.  Looks a bit like a clown's hat to me.  

Drying the river weed which is made into a rice paper cracker.  Also added to soups. 

Took a daytrip up The Mekong on a river boat like this to see a famous cave with 1,000 Buddhas. 

Stopped at a Whiskey and Weaving village on the way. 

  

So much choice it is almost paralyzingly - I did finally make a purchase - the 8th one in the front right row.  It was a lucky day for me according to the well spoken owner.

No, we didn't taste these whisky concoctions some of which had perserved snakes in the bottle. It was 10 AM and I have a long standing phobia about snakes. 

Village Vat

Getting back on the boat 

Saw elephants from afar on the river's edge.  A popular day trip is to visit an elephant rescue centre. One we didn't do. 

Wash day on the Mekong. 

 

Cave of a 1,000 Buddhas

These offerings will all be gone by the end of the day.   There are lots of tourists at these sights but we are (happily) outnumbered by locals who come here to pay their respects.