October Vacation, Part 2: The Sabai, Sabai Life

Luang Prabang, Laos

Our ride to L.P.

Our slow boat ride on the Mekong River from Tha Chung to Luang Prabang took took almost six hours, but contained some of the most beautiful and stunning sights I've seen in Asia (and cost all of $13). For the whole trip, the mud-colored slow-moving water we floated down was bordered by steep white cliffs, tall green palms, and little sandy beach inlets, where fishermen would pause to rest or prepare their nets.

We arrived in Luang Prabang as the sun was setting Sunday afternoon, and it was pretty much love at first sight. Partly because we were at the tail end of low tourist season, and partly because of the general atmosphere of Luang Prabang, it was very quiet and peaceful. The city truly lived up to the alternate meaning of Lao P.D.R.: "Lao People Don't Rush." I wish there were more epic stories to recount, but the whole week was all very sabai, sabai and laid back. We spent our days walking the cobbled streets, checking out temples, picking through the mile-long Hmong craft market in the city center, drinking AMAZING Lao coffee and Beerlao, and sitting by the riverside. At night, we'd go out for a round of "happy hour" drinks, dinner, and Nutella crepes. I'll be admittedly lazy with my written descriptions in this post, and let the pictures do the talking.

Buddhist temple ceremony, Luang Prabang

Wat Xieng Thong Mosaic

Almost like Princeton Reunions: 5 a.m. Morning Alms

Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha rockin' everywhere: Pak Ou Caves

We made two day trips outside of Luang Prabang. The first was to the Pak Ou caves, which are set inside steep cliffs overlooking the Mekong River, and are only accessible by boat. For hundreds of years, local Lao people have taken their old or damaged Buddha statues to the caves for "storage." The caves are now filled with thousands of these chipped, armless Buddhas, in every different color, size and pose. The figures are packed into every shelf and crevice along the cave floor and walls.


On the way home from the caves, our driver took us to a Hmong "Whisky Village" and craft market, where we were given shots of rice wine and scorpion-infused whisky (neither were very tasty; both packed a serious punch). Also for sale: snake whisky and monkey whisky - each with the animals stuffed inside the glass jars. Noooo thanks.

Not a bad way to picnic

The next day, we took a songthaew the Kuang Si Waterfalls, about two hours outside the city. We spent hours hiking through the falls, taking pictures, and stopping to throw on our bathing suits and swim at various "swimming holes" along the waterfall path. The water was warm and an incredible clear mint-green color. For lunch, we parked ourselves at a picnic table that was set up inside one of the shallow pools and dove into the Lao baguette sandwiches we had packed.

I wish we could have spent another week in Laos, but Vietnam beckoned....

Next post: Hanoi!