Same, Same...But Diferent...

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So first blog entry from this city I think? You can probably tell from that that Laos is a pretty laid back place! Not that we havent been busy but they definately have a very laid back lifestyle. Plus as you know we paid a visit to the plain of jars for a couple of days in the middle.

The first day here we went on a walking tour which is in the Loas travel book we bought. It took us all around the city and past all of the important monuments/temples though we did get a little off track towards the end. Not our fault though - you try navigating when they dont put up signs with road names and the ones they do, the roads change name every 40ft!!! NMo harm done though, its such a small place that in losing ourselves we were only a two minute walk from oyur guest house. That evening (and every other) we went for a stroll down the night market which is spread across a few roads just off the main street and along outside our hostel. Its really beautiful to see all of the hand crafts they have on show like cushions and blankets and lots of clothes aswell as alot of other stuff. Luckily there is no noise issue with it being so close to our room becfause there is a 12pm curfew in Luang Prabang and all of the residents are up before 6am to give alms every day (more on that later).

The next day we went for a massage which was very relaxing and enjoyable. Mine involved hot strones and a steam bath thing and Vicky had a traditional Luang Prabang one. That afternoon we went to se Wat Pa Huak near the palace which is an abandoned temple but still as stunning as the rest. On the outside is a carving of Buddah riding a three headed elephant (I think the old Lao flag?) and inside were three large gold buddahs. That night we found what must be the cheapest meal we will ever eat. On the edge of the market is a stall selling 'all you can fit in a bowl' noodles for 5000 Kip (roughly 25p) and they were also really good!

First day back after the plani of jars and it rained alot. It was non-stop from early morning untill about 7am the next day. Needless to say there wasn't much to do, but we did visit the old royal palace (the royals were banished by the Pathet Lao many years ago) which is now the Luang Prabang National Museum. Inside there are the old quarters of the royals and the throne room along with the kings golden elephant saddle and alot ogf samuri-looking swords belonging to his guards. There is also a room full of gifts to the royals given by foreign world leaders including a piece of the moon from the US but nothing from us. I did temporarily get thrown out though for using my camera and had to work hard to stop them from confiscating it. I think I will pay a little more attention to signs in future! There was also the "Pha Bang" in the museum, the statue from which the city got its name (Luang Prabang = The Great Phabang). It was supposedly a gift from Shri Lanka around the 10th century and was stolen twice by Thailand but given back both times obecause they thought it was bad luck! The day after the rain and the sun was back with avengance. It has never been so hot! We visited a couple more temples, two of them on our road. One had a scottish couple teaching the young monks origami (well he was doing paper aeroplanes!) Vicky also fell in love with four small kittens which the monks look after.

Mount Phousi is a 100m high hill in the centre of the town and after paying the 20000 Kip entrance we climbed to the top. The views across the city are spectacular and there is also a temple and a stuppah there. We wlaked along a narrow path at the top of the hill past an old gun emplacement and to a cave shrine with creepy statues in it and also to the site of what is believed to be buddahs footprint. Not its not what you expect at all, I thought it would be a footprint in sand or something that they had preserved but no. There was a miniature temple with a door youi had to stoop alot to get through and when I looked inside the footprint must have been about 5ft long and in the rock! They had painted the inside of it gold though it was now very faded. That night we went for cocktails in 'Lao Lao Garden'. Lao Lao being a local rice whisky made in the small villages. It was two for one when we went so we thought we would pace ourselves and ordered one each forgetting that Lao people are often very littteral. A short while later the waiter emerged with our four drinks and also two free shots. It was a lovely bar though and the drinks were good so we didn't complain. We did swap one drink each though because my cocktail had tabasco sauce in it and did leave a sensation on your lips.

Yeaterday we rented bikes and went off exploring. We crossed the Nam Kahn (Nam meaning river in Lao) and just cycled in a straight line for a while. It didn't take long before we ran our of road and were at the airport. Its very small and there was only one plane there. Not being time to leave yet, we turned around and cycled for a while in a few different directions before heading back for lunch. More of the same after lunch but we followed the banks of the Mekong and passed through several small villages and had some kids trying to high-five us as we passed. We also stopped at a temple but left quickly after being pestered for money by a random lady. Last night after seening adverts across the town, we went to the CCC (Childrens Cultural Centre) for a performance of local drama. It was to fund their trip to Vientiane for a show and featured puppets, dance and a couple of plays and we were given tea and Lao sweets whilst we watched.

This mornign we finally mustered up the energy to go and see the locals giving alms to the monks. At dawn every day the monks walk the streets taking offerings off the people such as rice and fruits and it was worthwhile waking up. There were loads of monks from all of the different temples walking singlew file and zig-zagging around all of the streets. We went to the market after that because it ususlly packs up before 9am and had a wander to see them selling all of the fresh fruits and veg. Only two days left now though but we still have a few things left to do...


BTW... Same Same But Different is a local saying for when they don't have something which you ask for, they offer you something else explaining that its the same but different.

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Photos

Wat Xeng Thong
(I think?) I had to get at least one temple on!

Main St Luang Prabang
Not quite like an English City centre!

Overtaking lane
How often do you overtake one of these at home?

Out on the bikes
...with Luang Prabang's sprawling airport in the background!

Monks recieving Alms
Very spooky at 6am, its so silent!

Comments

[Jayne]

25p!!!??
Carry on like this and you'll come home with more than you went with!!! You two look very healthy, must be all the noodles, vegetables and sunshine! Bet you cant wait for a