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A GOOD INSECT AND MOSQUITO RELLANT IS A MUST
Local delicacy, Luang Prabang, Lao.
Cafe 56, Luang Prabang, Lao.
Muong Lao (Visoun)-Bathroom-spaciousenjoy the relaxed pace and friendly locals
Luang Prabang is the kind of place you can sink into. Though you can see most of the sights in a couple days, it is easy to meander a few extra days as it is just so pleasant. It is also easy to lose some days talking to the monks. These friendly and intelligent locals will keep you occupied for hours as they practice their language skills on you. We had read how friendly the monks were in Luang Prabang but I guess you never quite know to what degree until you actually meet some. The enchanting city stole our hearts the very first day. We wandered the banana palm-clad town from end to end, enjoying brief glimpses of river life as well as the many elegant temples that have started to make it a popular stop on the Southeast Asia circuit. One like-minded passerby offered up without our even saying as much as hello, that Luang Prabang was indeed the greatest place in the whole region. That very afternoon, what seemed like an ill-timed lunch visit to the oldest temple in town turned out to be a most interesting one. What struck us as soon as we entered was the droning hum of the monks performing a mantra, a sound that brought about a real sense of peace in the room. This contrasted sharply with the monks sitting in a row, with not only their traditional lunch in front of them, but also a green-glassed bottle of 7-Up with a white straw each. It was a photo I was too shy to take but that is etched in my mind perhaps more acutely now because of it.
After their meal, we were asked to join in to learn a bit of their culture and try some of the foods typical of Laos. The tastes were varied and new to us especially the Lapp, a raw meat salad made with chilies and eaten with sticky rice to help stem the tide of the fiercely spicy dish. I enjoyed it immensely and was glad to finally find it as I had been looking for it for days. Later that night with a fever and profuse diarrhea, I would regret my adventurous culinary nature. (Conclued below in Fondest Memory)
