Luang Prabang

We have been enjoying Luang Prabang so much. It's a beautiful town and has the advantage of its French heritage which means that there are some excellent restaurants and bakery cafes with far too tempting croissants, and pastries. No pictures though - I don't want you salivating on the screen. (Well, of course it's because I didn't think of it when I was eating that just-baked flaky crioissant and that delicious framboise tart with pistachio cream.) 

Luang Prabang has had a designation as a world treasure from UNESCO since the early 90's because of its French-Lao colonial architecture. Many of the hotels and shops are in these renovated buildings including our own hotel. The main street has numerous buildings which reflect this heritage. I'm afraid my photography skills do not equal the beauty of the buildings. 

Of course there are also a number of beautiful temples, many of them in wood rather than the ubiquitous stucco of Thailand. 

One of the temples is covered in stucco and decorated with colorful glass mosaics. 

I love the elephants. 

And there are some unique chedis. 

This building is part of the monks' quarters. The chain of origami cranes added a personal touch. 

This grouping of Buddhas is in the garden of the temple at the end of our lane. 

In the same temple, two days ago several monks were beating the large drum as a prelude to the Chinese New Year. It was interesting watching them hand off the gong as they kept the rhythm going. 

And a cymbal player added a gentle ting to the booming drum. 

Every morning beginning at 6 am the monks of the temples parade through the streets in their bare feet collecting offerings of food from the devout which will provide their meals for the day. They are also accompanied with a constant stream of tourists snapping photos but they maintain their dignity and look neither right nor left. it's cold in the mornings. I worry for their feet. 

During the day these monks have other responsibilities too. 

 But they also get to relax and even check their cell phones. 

The Royal Palace is now a museum. Its main temple houses the revered Luang Prabang Buddha and on the day we visited there were a large number of monks visiting. When I walked up to the entrance a group was sitting chanting.  And when they weren't doing that they were taking pictures of each other. 

These monks are at the entrance. 

On our first day we watched the sun set from a terrace over the Mekong. 

Today is Chinese New Year and there are many many Chinese tourists in town. Some of the restaurants have decorated for the event, even though the Lao people don't celebrate this date. Their New Year is in April. 

A scene of village life I captured on my walk this morning.

And today we had lunch on the River Kam in Luang Prabang which flows into the Mekong just ahead. Geordie relaxed. We didn't try the Nanaimo bars which were on the menu. But we might later. They looked authentic on the menu.