Luang Probang is the second city of Laos but still feels like a small market town. It is however strange as it does not feel like a typical city in a third world country. There are very few beggars, no litter or any of the poverty that you would expect. Instead, there are wine bars, expensive boutique shops and a shortage of backpacker accomodation.
Shannon and I just enjoyed chilling out, wandering around the book shops and galleries and then heading off on some bikes to explore the local countryside. Bearing in mind it is the second city, it was rather odd to be in the middle of the countryside after a few minutes cycling. Stopping for a roadside snack, it was a bit of a shock to see
baby dog kebabs....we moved swiftly on.
Luang Probang is known for the monks giving Alms. Every morning at 5.30 the monks walk the streets accepting gifts from the locals. It really is quite a sight seeing up to 300 monks walking single file down the street accepting gifts of food, mostly sticky rice, from the locals. You should only give the monks something of value from yourself and not from some of the street vendors, otherwise the sense of spirituality is lost. You actually get a better feel for the habit if you wander along some of the smaller streets where smaller groups of monks collect the alms from the locals. If you choose to participate, buy your own food from the markets the day before, NOT from the vendors that morning.
Enjoying the Laos food, we joined a cookery class. Visiting a local market and chopping up the local
produce whilst being talked through local culinary techniques was a different way to gain an insight into the local people. The onset of the rainy season seems to have been premature during our bus journey. Since arriving in Laos I have continued to perfect the acquistion of a 'rouge' sun tan.....
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