The Laos trip: Kruang Si Waterfall, Day 6

Nearing to the end of the Laos story. I hope most of you liked it. I know I did!

After a day and a half of watching temples, and walking around Luang Prabang, we decided that on our last afternoon we will visit the nearby Kruang Si Waterfall. After a little research we found that it is the best we go with a travel agency, where they organised a shared transportation but offered all to freely enjoy the waterfalls in their own pace.

The waterfall is not one tall fall, but a series of smaller falls, and little ponds between them, where you can enjoy a swim if you wish. Since my son really wanted ( at least until he found out that this "sea" is very cold) we tried. But just for a short time; it was fun.

Instead more talk, have a look on some photos, and decide, what you think. I know we liked there.

The Laos trip: Luang Prabang, Wat Pahouak, Day 5

Wat Pahouak isn't particularly a big Wat, nor a magnificent one. So, why I choose to include it, if I saw many which more beautiful ones, that I skipped? Wat Pahouak merited its own post, and you will see why soon.

The Wat is just a bit offside of the staircase leading up to Pousi Stupa on the top of the hill, but I think they get considerably more visitors. However I am a curious type. What really caught my attention first was the sign by the door. I Include the photo above to read it:

Inside there were these murals, and compare to the small side, it was easy to see that it had been a beautiful small Wat (temple) in the past. Unfortunate, most would need renovation soon, before they can't be restored anymore. After some photos, I realised two more things.

First, that nobody else is there. And that made the second even more strange. There was a big table with different size of little paintings, pictures, and such, with a donation box, and a book to record transactions. I mean by yourself, as nobody was there!! We had a look, and saw they included some recommended donation price on the back of the pictures, by pencil. I don't know, but for some reason I really got touched by the moment, being in a small temple all alone, and having the trust in people not to just take away anything. Not as I would do that, but you might know what i mean. I afraid not all like this.

In the end we ended up two nice pictures, consider it as an entrance fee. The price was really cheap, and now framed (now, that cost 3 times the pictures price!) they are decorating our homes. Not only they look good on the wall, but also a memoir of the Laos trip, and of Wat Pahouak.

The Laos trip: Luang Prabang, Phou Si Stupa, Day 5

Still Day 5, and still temples. Just thought the whisky will give a little break from temples, and maybe something to wonder, how it would taste the snake whisky. I haven't tried, I don't know.

If you haven't been yet in Luang Prabang, from its geography there is two things to know: the Mekong river hug it around from three sides, kinda looks like a peninsula, and that in the middle of the city there is a hill, called Phou Si. And where else could be the Phou Si Stupa, than on the top.

The really think to motivate tourists, because at the bottom of the hill there is a sign telling you that it is 198 steps to get to the top. Good thing the stairway isnt too steep. On the way there is some frangipani trees and others, and the whole thing was real peaceful.

Once on the top there is a magnificient view over the town, and the weather was clear enough to see the surrounding mountains, and the Mekong to disappear in the distance. And yes, there is the Phou Si Stupa. It is like every stupa, like an upside-down turned bell, though this was more looked like a little tower. All shiny golden, as it is mostly. Maybe you found out, the stupa was the excuse to climb all that 198 steps, what we really went to see was the view. Should you be there, go for the view as well! That is the real attraction.

Lao special: Snake Whisky

Being away for over a week from home is not that simple anymore, since we have the rabbits. Lucky for us, our friend Khun Jazz was kind enough to come over and feed them. In fact as we found later out, she did a very good job, the rabbits seemed to be twice the size we remembered!

For all this help, we certainly wanted to have some gift for them, and in that something Lao.
There is a night market ( maybe evening would be more proper as they finish at 10PM) every day in Luang Prabang, turning a segment of the main street asphalt into stalls, where they sell their crafts and souvenirs. And here we stumbled upon this special present: the Snake Whisky. Look a bit morbid, in a way remind me of those tequila bottles, though the worms are considerable smaller then this snake. They claim it works as a medicine too, but someone have to test that for me to prove.


Anyway, I couldn't pass on it, as I knew they like new things to try; once even tasted my cooking! OK, actually I am a good cook, so, they were not in danger (I cook European, don't do Thai dishes). Later I also see at some restaurant that have enormous bottles with matching big snakes in the whisky, where you could buy by shot.


As it turned out, it was a good choice, they liked the look, and there was the surprise factor too. I don't know if they tasted, yet I always forgot to ask.

Just for a side note: early this week I had almost the chance to try to make my own snake whisky, as we had another snake in our garden. The 3rd times in 4 month. I don't know what happened lately, before we did not have at all. Anyway, was thinking late, I think headless it would not look the same in the bottle. Maybe the next intruder?!

The Laos trip: Luang Prabang, Wat Mai, Day 5

Thinking over, I realised that we saw way more Wat (temples) that most would mind to see, I just try to share some of the more memorable one.

Wat Mai (or Wat May Souvanhnaphoumaram) was the most beautiful of all the Wats we saw in Luang Prabang. It is on the main street of the downtown, and by the street might not look too special for the first sight. But better you have another look! You don't want to miss out on this one! So much, like I didn't have a decent photo of the whole building to show.

For start, the temple's walls by outside by the entrance fully gold plated, they look amazing. I haven't seen anything like this before. But this is not everything!

They have a copy of the Emerald Buddha ( the one from Thailand's Wat Phra Kaew) that you can actually see from really near by, and even photo, unlike the one in Thailand. Inside from around head height to ceiling the walls are covered with small golden Buddha 'amulets', little Buddha images; probably there is a few thousands of them.

Same like before, let the photos talk rather. Enjoy.

The Laos trip: Luang Prabang, Day 5

Since the long bus trip to get here, we woke up a little late, and decided that start out with the temples and city sightseeing.

I heard that Luang Prabang is famous from them, the city itself part of the World Heritage sites.

But without actually doing my reseach homework, didn't have much idea what we will see exactly. Also due to the late arrival, last night we didn't see much were we are, and daylight all looked different then in the dark. So, just started out the first temple we found, and then continued like that toward the downtown.

Walking up from our guest house to the main street, we found ourselves just in front of a nice staircase leading to Wat Hosian Voravihane.

Both side of the stairs has what I call a big crocodile with a 7 headed dragon in its mouth. OK, maybe it is not a crocodile, but a dragon also, as my wife like to think. One head kind, so maybe this is why eat the 7 headed, out of jealousy. Hmm, promise next time I will read after this.

Anyway, all painted shiny silver, sparkling in the morning sunshine, it was very impressive.

And so was the temple too. It is not a really visited one by tourists, still a bit out from downtown, so it was quiet there. I like that.

The usual structures, living quarter for the monks and novices one side, and the Wat on the other side. The Wat itself very pretty, they have painted the wall even outside with pictures, but I think instead of telling more here, just have a look on the photos, they tell more then 100 words.