Loving Laos
Trip Start
Feb 01, 2004
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28
44
Trip End
Jun 01, 2004
Luang Prabang,
Lao Peoples Dem Rep
Thursday, April 1, 2004
The city of Luang Prabang is one of Indochina's classic cities. It is absolutely beautiful, situated around a large hill which dominates the skyline. It is full of historic temples and old French mansions in a pretty mountain setting.
We are staying with a beautiful Lao family who tell us each day to make ourselves at home. They ask us to join them for dinner and make us feel part of the family. It is a happy week for them because a brother who has lived in Canada for 22 years has returned home to see his mother. It was fun for us to talk to him since he lives near Sue and Larry.
The market here is fantastic, full of Hmong handicrafts...they are famous for weaving and textiles and silver
l1
.Since Laos is mostly Buddhist, many males choose to ordain as monks temporarily. It is fascinating to speak with the monks as they are receiving alms in the morning. Many of the guys live at a wat for anywhere from a week to several months and are eager to practice their English.
Our goal has always been to get off the beaten path, so we hired a driver/guide to take us to the mountains north and east of here. We had been warned about walking in the fields because of UXOs (unexploded ordinances)...live bombs left behind by 100 years of warfare. US-made cluster bombs pose the most threat and still account for about 100 Lao casualties a year. Eventhough the risk to travellers is low, it's recommended to stay on the trail even if nature calls. This was an easy decision for us...better to be caught in a compromising position than to have a UXO blast your butt to smithereens! Yep..we stayed with the guide and on the trail!
We have been volunteering here as bit, both teaching English at a school in the evenings and with the Lao Red Cross. Then when we found out that Lao people have to pay $40 USD for a unit of blood, we gave blood too! They were so thankful..guess it is unusual for a foreigner to offer blood...
So much more to tell and so little time.
We head soon to Vang Vieng and Vientiane where we 'll celebrate our two month anniversary...two months on the trail that is.
