Lou-ahng Prah-bang
I’m really bad at foreign pronunciations. Like, REALLY bad. And Sean isn’t much better, which usually leads to horrendous butchering of our upcoming destinations until we can get there and figure out how in the hell to say the names. I even mispronounce easy words. I always pick the wrong way to say it. But wouldn’t you agree that Lou-ahng Prah-bang is so much more fun to say than Lou-ong Prah-bong? I thought so.
Our eight days in Luang Prabang, like much of our time in Laos, were spent chilling and taking in the lovely surroundings. We’d usually muster up the energy to engage in one “activity” per day, if you count eating chocolate chip cookies at our favorite cafe as an activity, which I do.
Rules on the back of our hotel door. Number 5 amused me because it apparently okay to have a one night stand, just as long as no love is involved. Number 6 is very upsetting and foiled our plans.
Sunset over the Mekong viewed from Phou Si Hill. Where you get a great view of the Mekong and the gorgeous greenery around town (see above)...
...shared with hundreds of your new best friends. Yes, you won't be the only one in Luang Prabang, and you probably won't learn much about local culture while your there, but gosh darn it, Luang Prabang is beautiful.
The Luang Prabang night market. We must have walked through it at least once per day but never bought anything. I may or may not have added to my growing scarf collection from one of the fair trade stores in town, however.
A hundred thousand times better than getting up at the crack of dawn to watch the alms giving ceremony is simply monk-spotting around town. We spotted these monks having fun and goofing around during bath time in the river. Every thing about the moment was beautiful - the lighting in the late afternoon sun, their orange robes against the riverside greens, the spontaneity of it all, and the joy of the monks without our intrusion on their fun. (If you go to the alms ceremony, which we did, I know you won't be THAT tourist who sticks his or her camera right in the monks' faces, right? We saw way too many of THOSE tourists treating the monks like zoo animals instead of showing respect for their religious ceremony).
A leaping monk.
Along Luang Prabang's riverfront. Luang Prabang sits alluringly between the Mekong River and the Mae Kok River.
In a town full of cafes, Saffron was our absolute favorite. Between their free wi-fi, real deal chocolate chip cookies, their organic, fair-trade local coffee, and their huge breakfast combos with bacon and cheese eggel bagels, tropical fruit salad, and cinnamon rolls, we were in heaven.
Wat Xieng Thong, an important Lao temple located near the confluence of the two rivers.
Wat Xieng Thong
The French Indochinese architecture around town is what put Luang Prabang on the map as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The striking Royal Palace in the heart of town.
Veggie street buffet. Gotta love a heaping plateful of dinner for just $1.25. Choose your dishes wisely - the ladies running the buffet dump all your choices together to heat them up.
Kouang Si Waterfalls, outside of Luang Prabang. The most gorgeous falls we've seen - since Plitvice National Park, that is.
Kouang Si Waterfalls
Kouang Si Waterfalls
PLEASE tell us that monk made it to the other side!!
And regarding #5, what is crambling anyway?
Of course he did. And I’m pretty sure that is supposed to be gambling – the misspellings in Asia would drive you bonkers.
Great shot by the way on the leaping monk, Amy ~ your photography is amazing. ♥♥♥
The place looks beautiful. I’m not sure about those rules though.