Exploring Luang Prabang

Relaxing Day?

Our aim was to chill more in Luang Prabang , Karen understood this but despite being 34C feels like 42C I decided to have a look round.

I'm not sure I've ever sweated so much in my life. When I met Karen for lunch she brought a replacement t-shirt for me plus deodorant and a towel to dry the sweat off.

Exploring Temples and the UXO Visitor Centre

My first stop was the UXO museum, a small place explaining the history of the unexploded ordnance from 9 years of American bombing during the 60s and 70s. I knew very little about this and it was regarded as a secret war when America wanted to stop weapons reaching Vietnam. The bombing was indiscriminate and over 30% never detonated causing massive issues since. Apparently the bombing made Laos the most bombed country per capita ever. The stats for number of bombs dropped are frightening.

After this I walked through the old quarter, lots of colonial French houses. Very nice but I was keen to get onto the temples for the day. This meant more steps, 355, up Mount Phousi to see the temple and a great view of the area. I think my sweaty state put another couple of going up, although I saw one chap I spoke to as I came down and he was going up later in the morning and by then he was in the same sweaty state as me. I did mention it!

Then finally on to Xieng Temple, which I think has been one of my favourite temples. A big area with lots of shrines and altars from the 1500's many of which have been carefully restored.

Despite the heat it was an enjoyable few hours. Luang Prabang is amazing so many different areas and it seems every few minutes I came across another temple.

Cruising into the Sunset

Our hotel offered a free sunset tour and we saved this for our last day in Luang Prabang. The cruise was very relaxed and chilled. The views were great and nice seeing the sun go down on the Mekong.

We went for tea after the cruise at Lost in Bann, it was recommended by an ex-pat we spoke to yesterday. Really nice food with lots of funk and soul playing , it describes itself as a restaurant and listening bar! Definitely different to other places we'd been to.

The walk back to the hotel seemed steps too far for me and I can't believe I've only walked 14km today, seems twice that! I blame the heat and steps.