Luang Prabang

This is a very touristy spot in Laos complete with internet cafes, loads of good restaurants, boutique hotels, unique shops, and tour operators selling every and any type of tour package. It was an easy place to spend 7 days. Our hotel was right across from a major temple and we heard the monks early morning drums and cymbals, as well as their singing / chanting in the evening.

We saw many beautiful temples and a common motif here is the tree of life, which we loved seeing on most of the temples. Xander particularly loved hearing the monks sing and learned very quickly how to kneel down and listen excitedly and quietly. Well, I guess he was quiet until we were sneaking out the back and he leaned over and struck a huge gong, which added a little extra music to the chanting ceremony. This only hastened our exit!!!

We hiked up Mount Phousi, visited the Royal Palace Museum, and trekked all over town visiting temples and talking to monks. We did more laundry and this time it smelled much better (I think dryer sheets were involved). The cardboard sign promised “perfumed” laundry.

Jennie enjoyed taking a Lao cooking class and is now ready to bring the yummy Lao flavors home to her own kitchen : ) Our last morning in Luang Prabang we also got up early to feed the monks. Xander loved putting fresh fruit into their brass bowls.

We also took a boat out to see the Buddhist grottoes; which were completely overrated and overrun with tourists. We’ve seen some real grottoes in China and we were disappointed in these which were just caves with small Buddhist statues. Afterward we stopped in a handicraft village and saw silk runners being made on the looms. This village ended up being the highlight of our trip that day besides the fun time in the boat.

“Sa Ba Dee Pri Mai” – This means Happy New Year in Lao! The kids perfected it and announced it to everyone they met. It was cute to see the warm responses.

We celebrated New Years in Luang Prabang and it was very nice. We got Pad Thai to go and ate it on our balcony while watching traditional Lao music players and dancers at the hotel party below us. It was perfect and so charming and the kids were totally entertained. We thought to ourselves: hey, we’re so lucky! The kids got baths and we got all cleaned up and ready for bed when the lead singer (from the hotel below) cranked up the volume and got the real party started – uh oh! Even after pleading with the manager at the hotel below, the volume didn’t waiver and we put up with it till 1:00 a.m. The family slept, thankfully, but mom (even with ear plugs) lay in bed hearing the boom, boom, boom of the drums and bass guitar. Oh well, what can you do? Happy New Year!

We loved visiting the night market. We went a few nights and lasted until one of the kids melted down. It was great to see all the hand-made goods and handicrafts things that were for sale. Almost everyone announced their price and then after a brief pause said “Do you want discount?” Uh, yes I do! And off came 5,000 Kip (about .70 cents). Those 12 year olds are tough bargainers and we were glad to see them out only on weekends and at the night markets, which meant they were in school during the day.

We flew home exhausted and happy to have had so many great adventures, and happy to be home in our own beds. Mom Oxycleaned the heck out of the laundry and did a double soak and wash of everything – walking around in stocking feet in all the temples makes for really dirty socks! The backpacks and shoes still need to be cleaned, but everything else has made its way back to its proper place now.