Luang Prabang

After another cramped mini van ride, we arrived at arguably the best visitor attraction in Laos – Luang Prabang. Lying at the confluence of the mighty Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers, the town enjoys UNESCO status as “an outstanding example of the fusion of traditional architecture and Lao urban structures with those built by the European colonial authorities in the 19th and 20th centuries” [1]. The town a great place to walk around – French colonial houses and traditional temples sit side by side, and with hotels and restaurants catering for all budgets, the result is a relaxed atmosphere and chilled vibe with enough going on to satisfy both those looking for bar hangouts and those hunting for cultural nourishment.

Unfortunately on our arrival, after days of taking Imodium, Tom succumbed to the remnants of his jet lag and travel stress, resulting in bed rest and fluids, meaning a day of exploring without him. We headed up Phou Si/Chomsy Hill, a towering natural feature which you can’t miss on walking around the town. At the top lies a Buddhist shrine and space to enjoy almost 360 degree views of the area from a decent vantage point. There is also a Buddha’s footprint and cave temple located about half way down the hill, offering colourful cultural scenes and some Instagram worthy backdrops.

Another highlight of Luang Prabang was the opportunity to visit the impressive Kuang Si Falls. After bargaining for a taxi we travelled the approximately 30km south of the town to reach the stepped waterfall. It was obviously a very popular day trip as tuk tuks, mini vans and motorbikes were crammed in the car park, making it one of the more crowded attractions we went to in Laos. One of the big draws of Kuang Si is that tourists have the chance to swim in the natural pools at each level (apart from the top where there are leeches!). The area has clearly marked signs and even changing rooms for swim gear, but be warned, there are fish in the pools, and not the kind that swim away from you! We found out after entering the water they are the same kinds of fish they use in foot spas that eat your dead skin, which was actually very unnerving in the milky water (caused by the erosion of limestone rocks). After a quick dip we decided the cold water and the unwelcome sensation of fish was little too much, so we dried off and continued to walk the nature trail that follows the river down stream. The site is also home to a bear sanctuary which takes in animals that have been rescued from farms providing ingredients for traditional medicines. The bile of the bears is harvested for traditional remedies and the animals involved are caged and brutally treated. The sanctuary is well maintained, if a little crowded, and relies on donations from visitors to operate. The whole place was beautiful and set in lush green forest – we think the pictures speak for themselves!

And just like that, it was time to say goodbye to Tom! It seemed to come round so quickly and we honestly couldn’t believe he’d been with us for 10 days! Our plan was to continue travelling south in Laos while he headed of on an amazing tour around Vietnam before heading to Hong Kong and then Canada. We were sad to see him go and thoroughly enjoyed spending some time relaxing and catching up. Thanks Tom!

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Sources

[1] - https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/479