We left China on a filthy bus, the most and only unpleasant leg of our journey so far. Thus, even more pleasant to arrive 24 hours later in tropical Luang Prabang. We had not been in Laos for 15 whole years and were very happy to be back. There is something so incredibly accessible about South East Asia (SEA); it is efficient and laid back at the same time, everything always seems possible somehow.
Luang Prabang is Laos’ cultural enclave, with a plethora of temples, museums and workshops. Some temples are more serene than…
…others. This dragon beast is obviously there to scare off evil spirits, seemingly a recurrent theme in most religions?
LP had changed so much in the past 15 years, from a sleepy village to a bustling town. It was still equally pretty though, the exploding tourism had been pretty gentle in its expansion, maybe the UNESCO status has helped to maintain its atmosphere.
Our pretty hotel was over 100 years old and had just been beautifully restored to its former glory. Sometimes tourism really helps in the preservation of old buildings and land marks. One thing I don’t get with tourists in SEA though; some kind of mass psychosis makes them wear those terrible flowy elephant clad “ethnic” looking trousers. Can’t someone tell them it’s cultural appropriation or something? I’m not sure it is though, the locals don’t really wear them, but just say anything to make them stop. At the same time, please make white backpackers stop with the dreads and cornrows as well. End of cynical Stockholmian rant.
How on earth did I forget Laotian food was so fantastic? I thought I never forgot a good meal. There were so many good restaurants we ended up staying over a week instead of the planned three days. Everything was so incredibly fragrant with enormous amounts of lemon grass, kaffir lime, mint, banana flowers and other mystical wondrous herbs (no, not the happy kind!).
But the best part of the tropics is to go jungle hiking!!!
I have a serious Dr. Livingstone kind of complex, whatever that is. Hiking in the verdant, thick, steamy jungle is something I just can’t get enough of.
Joen, however, is less enthusiastic. He does love the jungle, but has a severe snake phobia which limits his enjoyment. He kept close to the guide. I normally don’t like to hike with a guide (it takes away the explorer feeling) but in this area it can be difficult to find the paths independently.
Unimaginably blue rivers and banyan trees.
This part of the jungle is more cultured, you come across quiet a lot of people and villages. These people are harvesting rice.
Little piglets break my heart.
The human piglets are rather adorable as well. These cheerful little ones belong to the Khmu tribe.
And these girls belong to the Hmong tribe.
Initially we planned to do a bit of traveling in Laos, but ended up staying only in LP, and briefly in Vientiane on our way south.