March 2010: Luang Prabang Day, Lao

The most striking images of Luang Prabang is probably the morning monks procession-- where monks in their saffron robes from the many temples in the area walk through the main street to collect ulms of sticky rice. I wan't very keen on joining in, especially when it meant getting up early. By the time I left my room, the whole procession was over. I did met a Korean guy who came on the same bus as me the day before, having his brunch. He did 'witness' the procession and concluded that although he is a Catholic, he found the whole thing cleanses him spiritually. But at least I am early enough to witness some pigs on their morning walk on the beach.
The Mekong runs through Luang Prabang, and it doesn't
look in any better shape than in Vientiane. The water level was pretty low here, too.














Luang Prabang, as you probably know, is a UNESCO site. If I stay here for a few more days, I probably will understanding how it's landscape, culture, farming method, etc-etc makes it unique. But on the surface (and that's is as deep as a superficial tourist like me will ever get), it is puzzling how it got the UNESCO status.
Even one Laotian who strike up a conversation with me at the dinner place find it puzzling as well. Granted he is from Vientiane, and not Luang Prabang. Or maybe he is just being modest. Although the place lacks the grandeur of Angkor Wat, you can't deny it has its charm. The fact is, judging from the planes wheezing across the sky, all through the day, Air Lao is flying tourists into town.




























The most prominent landmark here is probably the Pho Xi, a temple atop a hill. The steps leading up the hill is across the road from the National museum.
Its golden pagoda is visible from the Luang Prabang National museum across the road.
It is worth picking your way up the stepsup the hill. Many did, to catch the sunset.
But you won't get to see far from the top of the hill. It is slash-and-burn season for the farmers here, and the air isn't really clear.
Someone enlighten me. How is a Saturday Buddha different from a Tuesday one, or Wednesday one?
Other than Pho Xi, there are other temples in town.

































Most of the 'touristy' place are close-by in town, so it gave the impression that Luang Prabang is a small place. The couple who were sitting one row in front of me on the bus from Vientiane, I ended up running into them at least four times in one afternoon. By the third time, we were giving each other the "small world, huh?" look.























And although the monk procession is over, it is not that difficult to run into them in their saffron robes all across town.














So, that's about all for one communist country. Tomorrow, I head for another one.
Onwards, to Yunnan, China.