Luang Prabang - UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Luang Prabang is on the Unesco World Heritage list mainy due to its wealth of buddha temples, statues, shrines and its architecture.

National Museum

We paid a visit to the National museum which was previously a residence used by the royal family. One of the reception rooms contained presents from countries all over the world. The USA had donated a Lao flag which had gone all the way to the moon and back on one of the apollo missions and some moon rock and a sincere message from president Nixon.

Searing heat today..nearly 40 degrees. Peter, Simon, Salud and I visited a local waterfall for the chance to take cold swim more than anything else.

Did lots of shopping in the night markets and tried a Lao massage on for size....

Lao Architecture

Next day we were flying Lao Airlines to Vientiane the capital city of Laos but we had time to visit the nearby mountain that had some of the most impressive statues of Buddha we have seen to date. Great view from the top.

On the way to the airport the guide stopped at anothet temple as our flight had been cancelled and we had a little more time. We learned about the stupa which is used to hold the ashes after cremation. The visit was all the more wonderful as we got the chance to listen in on monks daily prayer where they all chant in unison. Hypnotic.

Buddha Temple

Treasure Hunting

Beautiful

Gold Inlay

Mirrorwork

Weaving

Spinning Silk

Learning how paper is made

Drying paper

Khou Si Waterfall

38 degrees..glad of the icy dip

Elephant in Chains

Phou Si Mountain

Land of the Buddha

Morning Prayer!

Wow

Buddha for each day of the week

Keeping the enemy out

Mountain Viewpoint across the Mekong

Giant Stupa

Guardian

Monks Chanting

Take a risk...fly Lao Airlines