Hi Everyone,

Yes, so far Luang Prabang has been my favorite town/city in SE Asia. It’s quiet; it’s cleaner; it’s interesting . . .

But I’m writing this from Hue, Vietnam and on my way next to Hoi An (that people also say they like), so I’ll keep you posted.

Here are the “selects” from my many, many photographs of the area.

Enjoy!

My end room #5, the two windows facing the street made it shine! (literally ; )

This is from Wat Xieng Thong.

This too.

The mosaic of the tree-of-life is one of its main features.

While walking up the hill to Phu Si temple.

These guys were playing on the gun turret.

Sunset over the Mekong River from the summit of the highest hill (and where That Chomsi temple is located).

Can you get a hit of the fun vibe of this town?

Rented a bike and went out for a spin.

Yes, I received a full dose of happiness while on this boat tour up the Mekong River.

Met this nice young 22-year old Laotian gal; she was showing her parents around who were visiting from the south.

You can get rice based alcohol with all kinds of critters inside!

I bought a few of her cloths.

There were many, many people doing the same type of work in this little village north of Luang Prabang.

Moi and my new friend. : )

The boat trip was to this Pak Ou Caves.

One of my favorite meals while in Luang Prabang–fried noodles with veggies; that’s a mango smoothie in back.

I too gave them sticky rice and little cakes.

My “neighborhood” wat where I heard the monks hitting the drums one day.

Did you celebrate this holiday too?

Rented a bike again and headed out of town.

This is the wat with the golden dome that one sees from the top of the hill in the town center (on the peninsula in the classic “old” part of town).

And this is what it looks like inside; I climbed up to the top level! There were many levels.

Real life in Luang Prabang.

I like how they have the place for someone to sit on the bike; this was one of my new friend’s favorite wat, Sene, I believe is the name.

This caught my eye while riding down the road.

The one-way road along the Mekong River side of the peninsula.

Setting up for the nightly market . . . there’s lots of stuff in them there bags!

This is next to the Royal Palace Museum, known to the locals as Haw Kham (Golden Hall).

Dragons are one of the four sacred animals. The others? The phoenix, the unicorn, and the turtle. Some of the very important things I learned during my travels.

Lots of restaurants along the river for dining, drinking, and thinking–not necessarily in that order!

There are bizarre insects hidden underneath that goat cheese, salmon, and cavier! Met the wife of the chef of Blue Lagoon restaurant (a very, very nice restaurant in Luang Prabang); he offered to prepare insects for me in a way that “Europeans” can eat. I did; it was good; there was a undefinable “musty” flavor. No, I did NOT ask what the critters were! Knew I most probably wouldn’t be able to eat it then. Why did I eat them? How often is a great chef going to make such an offer to me?

There’s a library on the right; I had a nice evening there reading. Before, I’d gone to the wat across the street to sit and meditate as the monks chanted. I later learned that that was exactly when dear Julie Anne Mercer Lee left this planet.

I bought those paintings (the small ones : ). Recognize the one on the left, Jan? Have you received the box yet? The other two were drawn by that man’s niece (she’s about 5 or 6 years old).

For when you visit Luang Prabang . . .

And then it was time to leave for the airport . . .

Just in case you were tempted.

With my few remaining Laotian Kip and 2 US dollars, I bought my little guardian bat angel; it’s been keeping an eye on my computer for me.

Aloha Luang Prabang!

Aloha mon amis,

-sj