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A really early morning this morning (4:30) as Sue and I had decided to see the monks being given alms of rice. Our guide, Pan, suggested we do this near our hotel as the main place in town was normally quite crowded.
We bought sticky rice from this cheerful lady, and she lent Sue a sash to wear while handing out the alms
Waiting for the Buddhist monks from three different local temples to arrive.
It seems it's seniority (or age?) that dictates who leads the line.
Sue and Pan. We ran out before the really little boys arrived.
After the alms giving, Pan suggested we walk through the Morning Market. This sells everything from fresh fruit and veg to meat, fish and clothing. By now it was about 5:45, and the market would be completely gone by 10 to 10:30.
Rack of ribs, Madam?
Rhinoceros Beetles. Seemed someone thought them a delicacy.
This lady's happy because Sue bought some material from her
Fresh Lychees, 10,000 kip/kg (say AUD $1.60/kg)
Cabbage, shallots, lettuce, sandals, toys...
Back to the hotel for breakfast, then back into the car with Andy and Lesley to see a handmade paper village (everyone in this village seems to make paper) then the big trip of the day - going up the Mekong.
Some paper has bits of ferns, flowers, etc embedded in it.
Doing the embedding while the mixture is still fluid
Everything in here is handmade: books, prints, cards, etc
Our ride for today is the 1st on the right. Most of the vessels here have this very long skinny format, presumably for getting through rocky outcrops (see later)
A typical ferry/tour boat. The stern houses the owner's living quarters
Wasn't expecting to see this. The Mekong River Commission is an "...inter-governmental organisation that works directly with the governments of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam to jointly manage the shared water resources and the sustainable development of the Mekong River". Interesting that China doesn't seem to be included given its interest in building dams further upstream.
(Above) China's 'Belt and Road' initiative at work. This is one of 2 major bridges being built for the China-Laos railway that will run from the border at Boten in NW Laos, through to Vientiane. When completed in 2021, its operating speed will be 160kph. The present journey by road is about 300kms and takes 7~8 hours. Interestingly (and to us, surprisingly) we saw quite a few cars with Chinese number plates in Luang Prabang. Most were up market (Lexus, Porsche 4x4, etc).
(Left) Just downstream of the bridge, life goes on as normal...
For when you absolutely, positively have to be there NOW! Some of these speedy craft have V8s hanging off the back and sound like drag racers.
Farming on the river flats. I suspect you could grow nearly anything here, but obviously the Mekong floods to replenish the soil.
A riverside Buddhist monastery with the monks repairing their floating dock
Take some timber, 200 lt drums and PSP (Pierced steel planking - war left overs?) and you have an instant floating dock. Some are more stable than others...
Our first stop on the trip up-river - a Laos Rice Wine and Whisky distillery. Some bottles had the addition of whole snakes or scorpions in them for added 'flavour'. I suspect some of this would make great jet fuel, although we tried the dark one and it wasn't too bad.
Everyone seems to be doing some sort of handicraft
Purported to be ivory opium pipes. Not sure how enthused Australian Customs and Quarantine would be with these.
Next stop were the Pak Ou Caves. These are a group of two caves set above the Mekong and filled with thousands of statues of Buddha made of everything from wood to brass, bronze and even concrete. We only visited the lower caves as the higher ones were a long way up steep steps and we'd done our step climbing back in Luang Prabang! We've found one's enthusiasm for climbing lots of steps decreases with an increase in both temperature and humidity (and age?), and here it was about 35° and 90% humidity.
The cliffs that house the Pak Ou caves
The 'lower' caves. Very steep and narrow stairs, and limited room to manoeuvre with lots of tourists around
Earlier years' flood levels - compare their position with the photo at left.
It's a popular place! Lunch will be in a restaurant across the river where the Nam Ou River joins the Mekong.
Trying to get a reasonable photo to show the place was difficult; counting them was impossible.
View of the caves from the restaurant across the river.
Back in Luang Prabang, we spotted this cruise boat. It does 10 day cruises from Vientiane up the Mekong to Chiang Saen where the Myanmar, Laos & Thai borders meet.
Last night dinner with Andy and Lesley, then a walk back through Luang Prabang where I spotted this:
An early 1950s Citroen Traction Avant Familiale - a long wheel base version of the classic Light 15, but with 3 rows of seats (you can tell by the extra window each side). I'd never seen one in real life before.
Please excuse my enthusiasm if you're not a classic car nut!
Just about at the end of the holiday. :(
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