Everyone that we've met who has been to Laos, tells us that we have to go there... and warns that we might never leave. Laos has a reputation for being a fairly undiscovered backpacker country with laid back locals, amazing scenery, and countless adventure activities (kayaking, trekking, elephant riding, zip-lining, biking, rock-climbing, etc.). Our first stop is the major tourist hub of the north - Luang Prabang. Ironically, it doesn't seem so undiscovered as it's here, that we have seen the most tourists of all the cities we've travelled so far.
Even without doing any of the activities, the city is really interesting and attractive. We spent a lot of time trying different Laos foods and wandering the scenic, temple-filled streets. Here are some of our highlights:
The Monks at Dawn
One of the most unique experiences in Luang Prabang (and probably Laos) is seeing the monks do their daily walk through the streets of Luang Prabang. Every dawn (not sunrise), the monks walk single file from the Golden City Temple (Wat Xieng Thong) to collect alms (rice and other food) from the local population. Since monks have no possessions, they rely on the alms to feed them for the day.
We woke up around 5:30AM and headed to the centre of town. At around 6:30AM, we saw the first monks proceeding along the side walk. We were impressed by the numbers of monks there - the procession lasted around 45 minutes.
As much as the procession was unique and peaceful, we also sadly witnessed the farce that the tourists made of this spectacle. Several paparazzi-tourists would boldly get right up in the faces of the monks, madly flashing their cameras right into their eyes... it was like we were witnessing the opening of the latest new zoo attraction :(.
Overall, we loved the experience, but felt sad that the tourists weren't respectful enough to give the monks space to perform their ritual. On a funnier note, Dom thinks the monks might have been the true inventors of halloween… they wear orange outfits... walk the street collecting food... into their pumpkin-shaped bowls… hmm.. that can't just be coincidence! ;)
Walking the Streets
Luang Prabang is a small town that is easily walkable. It's a pleasure to enjoy the relaxing vibe while strolling the various streets and alleys, among some of the most beautiful statues and temples we've seen in our travels so far.
The Night Market
Every night along the main street, locals setup kiosks to sell their food and eye-catching wares. This is a perfect place (if you are not on an extended vacation) to buy some great souvenirs for you and your family. We regularly frequented the night market because we loved that it was super laid back, not too busy, and actually had so many beautiful and interesting things to look at. If we weren't travelling so light, we might have overindulged here… instead, as usual, we just enjoyed the window shopping…
Utopia Volleyball
Utopia's slogan says it all: "Don't wait till your last day in Luang Prabang to visit us". This off-center haven is a great place to chill out, read a book, do some yoga, or play volleyball. We went there a few times to have a drink and read, but most of the time you would find us playing volleyball with the locals (who are definitely a lot more skilled than most of the tourists!).
