The other day a would-be nomad called who wanted some travel advice. He asked what was my favorite destination. That is an extremely difficult question to answer, maybe impossible, but I thought about it and answered Laos. Sometimes a trip is a visit to another place full of malls, chain stores and restaurants. And sometimes it is like time travel or visiting another planet.
Our visit to Laos was part of an extended visit to South East Asia, a region I like quite a lot. I even lived for a while before I met Frankin. I had visited Laos but this was during the Vietnam war while the US was bombing Laos and travelers were not allowed outside the capital of Vientiane. So this time I wanted to see more. We started in Luang Prabang, a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the most unique and picturesque places I have ever visited.
Luang Prabang was not bombed during the war and has missed being modernized (a good thing). It is an extremely charming walking town where you can take the time to observe your surroundings and observe the Lao way of life. There are 33 temples and in just a few blocks and hundreds of monks walk the streets at dawn collecting alms to collect merit and also get food for their one meal of the day.
This is the biggest event of the day with hundreds of people watching, dozens of people on their knees offering alms of rice or fruit. and hundreds of monks receiving alms. This was the highlight of the day. I woke early to watch/experience this unique experience from a different viewpoint, street level, from a balcony at our hotel and one day even joined the ladies in offering alms myself. It may seem like I am posting a lot of photos here but it was one of the most photogenic events I ever saw and hope you find these photos a nice break from your daily routine now.
There are 33 temples and hundreds of monks in Larang Prabang and you can visit and often interact with them. Many of these young men speak or are studying English and love an opportunity to practice.
 |
| A cultural exchange |
