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Published: December 21st 2009
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Learning the drum
The monks were teaching a new monk how to beat the drum Corry was unwell through the night, so we changed the plans for the day. We left him to sleep and went for breakfast. We went to a cafe and had this fabulous breakfast, with baguettes that were so good, how bread should taste. Corry then joined us and we walked through town, did the shops on the opposite side this time.
We went to one of the tour places and organised a tuk tuk instead of the trek, two villages and a temple over 3 hours.
The first village was mainly silk weaving, one place had a full demonstration setup which was really good, it also had the natural dyes from plants and the colours they produce in sample thread. Unfortunately this was Bhudda day, so there was no one working. The silks are beautiful. We then went to the temple which was good, being restored slowly, but had the original paintings in it. The views were also really good. The area is really mountainous and Luang Prabang is surrounded by mountains in every direction. It seems that you can see a temple from every temple here. There were no monks there, but some nuns which I think is
Breakfast Luang Prabang
Breakfast Luang Prabang quite unusual here.
The next village was different again, and more villagy. The had a silversmith workshop and a textile centre where they all worked. They were still doing a bit of work in the textile centre, and we saw them feeding the worms, and working the looms. They all sit with their own work and show it to you. You just want to buy from tham all, it is a bit heart wrenching because they look like they need to sell it so much. The work is superb, and then they offer to discount it which feels wrong.
Our driver took us back, and wanted to take us to another village for the evening, but we are going to see more in the next few days, so we declined. I went for a coffee and WiFi to get the blog out whilst Christine took Corry to the book exchange. Liam came with me and had a Lasagna, then Corry had one when they came back. I got a few days up, which is good cause I am not sure when we will have internet access again. We went down to the market and had some dinner, Isabella
Harry at Breakfast Luang Prabang
Harry at Breakfast Luang Prabang and I shared some Lao food, including Mekong Seaweed that tasted like spinach. Corry and mum shared grilled meats and sticky rice, that they said was just fantastic. We continued through the market, but were a bit shopped out today.
I had to go to the bank and get the money for the next five days, as I don't think there will be any ATM's. Just working out how much is a headache, then getting K$5,600,000 in cash, at a max of K$700,000 per transaction leaves you with an amount of money they is thicker than most books I've ever read.
We have come back to the guesthouse and getting Harry to bed, and someone in the lane has had a bag snatched by three guys on a motorbike. The guesthouse owners are all out now, some jumped on their motorbikes and took chase, and have apparently caught them. It would be bad for business and they are obviously really keen to keep things safe. Don't think I'd be wanting to get caught stealing in Laos.
Tomorrow we are on a boat to Nong Khiaw, up the Nam Ou river at 8.30 am. It is about six
Stupa, main street Luang Prabang
Stupa, main street Luang Prabang hours, and apparently one of the best river boat rides in SE Asia.
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