Wednesday, March 9th, 2016

We left Vietnam in the morning and flew to Luang Prabang, Laos. It was one of our fellow travelers birthdays, so we had cake on the plane to celebrate!

We’re staying at Amantaka, which is set up on a garden estate that was a former hospital and now a beautiful colonial hotel, reflecting the town’s French colonial history. The scent of lemongrass surrounds the Amantaka, a smell that will continue to remind me of this special place long after we are gone. It also works as a great natural bug repellent, which is a life saver out here. Luang Prabang is a picturesque town on the banks of the Mekong River, and is the home of the former Royal Palace and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, helping to keep the culture alive.

Upon arrival we grabbed some bicycles and went out with a guide to explore Luang Prabang.  Biking through the narrow streets of Luang Prabang is definitely an experience, as there are no traffic lights and it’s a “hope for the best” affair.  Our first stop was the Wat Xieng Thong (Temple of the Golden City), the first and still one of the most important of the Lao monasteries.  It was constructed in 1559, and sits near where the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers meet.  The brilliant decorations and stunning colors of this UNESCO site definitely stood out, and it was fascinating hearing the history of the kings and monks of this sanctuary.

After that, we stopped at several places near the Mekong and also in the shopping districts, with our guide pointing out several of the best restaurants, shopping sites for locally-produced goods (such as textiles and other souvenirs) and a great spot for massages.

We made our way back to Amantaka to prepare for the evening festivities. Our guide for the evening was Prince Tiao Nithakong Somsanith (“Nith”), who went over the history of Laos, and interesting stories of his life and family. He also oversaw a traditional Baci ceremony which we were able to participate in, followed by a presentation of a few traditional dances and then dinner. One of the interesting points we learned was that while UNESCO preserves these sites, it is up to people like him to help preserve the culture and traditions of the local peoples.