Luang Prabang again

After our journey back from Nong Khiaw we spent another five nights in Luang Prabang. We didn't  do much - ate breakfast at Le Banneton, walked but not in  mid afternoon when it was so very hot. Let's check out the eating first. 

We went to a Lao restaurant called Tamarind which offered a tasting menu.

These dips were a sweet tomato based one on the left, and a smoky eggplant dip on the right. In the spoon was a very hot chili paste. It was served with dried river weed Which are crisp green sheets sprinkled with sesame seeds and garlic. Tasty. Under the spoons handle was dried buffalo which was hard but when chewed softened considerably and had a sweet taste which was very good.

For the main course we had fish which is baked inside the banana leaf package on the left beautifully tied with bamboo slivers, thinly sliced pumpkin in the small dish and a chicken dish which was pureed then stuffed into lemongrass sticks. Dessert (no photo) was purple sticky rice which is quite sweet and which I enjoyed. During dinner we met a couple who told us they were from Colorado near Aspen but later in the conversation without any hinting, told us they also spent six months a year in Newfoundland in Little Harbour near Twillingate. Small world.  

Chicken stuffed lemongrass. 

And there was more food. Who would have expected picture and taste perfect Nanaimo Bars in Luang Prabang. 

There were monks of course. As we ate those Nanaimo Bars we watched the monks walking by on the street and across the bridge below. 

And at their windows. 

From our hotel window we watched this woman winnowing rice. 

On the last day we were there we took the local ferry across the river.

This is the captain. The engine appeared to be operated by foot pedals and chains.

We walked through a village and then along the hillside where there were several temples. 

Buddhas of course. 

Naive painted frescos. I think these are giant carp attacking the locals. The one on the left is enjoying a tasty snack. 

And always elephants. 

The bell was made from a UXO - an UneXploded Ordinance. 

A monk studies in another window. 

And two more walk along a forest path. They weren't startled by us - there was a truck hauling gravel coming up behind them. 

These two young monks were sitting at one of the viewpoints. The boy on the right spoke enough English for us to have a conversation. I think they have been living in the temple for 7 months already. 

The view along the river was so idyllic. 

I leave you with these two old ruined chedis which grace the grounds of the first temple I visited.