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Published: December 21st 2009
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Monks at dawn Luang Prabang
Monks at dawn Luang Prabang Well, we made it through the night and no-one sick. Got in at 5.15 am and piled into a sangthaew, into the city centre. Not much open, so went for a walk. At dawn the monks come out for alms, and we bought some fruit and sticky rice to give them. They come from everywhere, as there are monasteries all over the city. There was a really good coffee shop in the main street, so went there for breakfast. Got some croissants (this was a french colony, so there is really good bread and pastries). The street next to the coffee shop is full of guesthouses. Everyone wanted to get us into one, no problem with availability and were attracted to one, Seng Phet, rooms were lovely, large clean and private bathrooms, and we took three. Currency is a bit scary, K$100,000 per room per night, which is just under A$13 per night per room. We are really pleased, but the kids still managed to fight over who has which room.
Isabella and Liam were very tired, and still feeling a bit off, so went to bed. We went out and organised a boat for Thursday and looked around. Lots
Monks at dawn Luang Prabang
Monks at dawn Luang Prabang of handicrafts, but really expensive. The town is so popular now with tourists they can get away with it. The architecture is really something, and why the town has become famous. They are really trying to keep the character, and all the new buildings are in keeping with the style. With so much concrete block construction in Asia it is a relief. Time to go back, woke Isabella and Liam, and went for a coffee whilst they woke up (we've missed good coffee, and this is locally grown and good). Went back and they were asleep again. This time we took them and hired some bikes, rode up to the main street and had baguettes for lunch. Then rode a circle around town, stopped and looked at things and bought some jumpers. The weather here is a bit like spring in the Adelaide Hills, cool and overcast in the mornings, warm and sunny in the afternoon and then cool evenings, and we didn't bring jumpers. Clothes are a bit confusing, good brands really cheap, but don't look like copies. We rode around for about three hours, so back for a pre dinner drink, have to try Beerlao, and Corry has
Monks at Dawn Luang Prabang
Monks at Dawn Luang Prabang to get back to his book. He has covered the book exchange shops of SE Asia.
We took the bikes back, (Beerlao was good, and spirits are really cheap 1l Gin for A$14, better than duty free) and then went to find dinner. There was a lovely temple lit up for prayers for the monks, I asked if I could take a photo and got chatting to one of the monks. They have a lot of really young boys as monks, and he explained it was a way for them to get educated. We then were at the night market, so many more handicrafts, and no where near as expensive. Bumped into a couple of guys from Singapore that we met on the bus and kept bumping into today, and they got our email address. We got some dinner, Christine, Harry and I noodles, Isabella and Liam baguettes, and Corry a doughnut (go figure). I had a chat to a young Lao girl from the north studying here, and she told me what to add to my noodles, they were very good. She also asked for my email address, and seeks out people that speak English to practice.
Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang Corry had seen a beautiful Chess set, and we went back and negotiated really hard, and with some help from Xmas money he bought it. Don't think he will ever regret it.
It is a cool evening, probably about 15 degrees, and a really nice atmosphere, sitting in the garden of the Guesthouse, listening to people chat around the other guesthouses in just about every language imaginable. Christine is settling Harry in, all the kids are looking much better, and tomorrow we might trek to a Hmong and Khmu village.
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