More Luang Prabang

Wat Xieng Thong was built in the 1500's and occupied a huge area set in ancient Banyan trees just north of my hotel. Beautiful brass carvings adorn the walls of the funeral chariot hall, containing the funeral chariot of the last monarch. Unfortunately you have to remove your shoes to go inside and the steps were so hot that I couldn't step on them with my bare feet.

The chapel of the Standing Buddha.

The sim...the main congregation hall.

The main Buddha inside the Sim. Wat Sene...the wat just across from my hotel. The Sim.
A group of young monks in the yard who spent some time practicing their English with me.
The Bell Tower.

Windows with graceful balusters and gold stenciling.

The door panels of the monks assembly hall.


The foo guard dogs.

A huge Buddha in an outside building

My hotel just across the street from Wat Sene. No houses in the old Thai style.



Growing crops along the Mekong.

The plane to Vientiane on Laos Airlines.

The Monk Parade, Luang Prabang

Every morning at dawn the monks all troop out from their assorted Wats and collect alms in monk bowls which they then take back to their Wats for breakfast and for offerings at the altars. During the high tourist season this is a big event, and the streets are full of camera toting photographers.


A smart local sells packs of "offerings" to tourists for distribution to the monks. Here another woman from my hotel prepares a donation.

Troops of dogs often follow them hoping for a snack.

A local market.
An outside Buddha in one of the Wats in town.
Foo Guard Dogs.
Handmade paper drying outside of a small local shop.

Luang Prabang Laos

Wat Sene...the view right across from my guest house. A fairly large school on the walk downtown.
Main street. This section is quite narrow with three streets and the Mekong River on one side and the Nam Khan River on the other side. The town was declared a World Heritage Site a few years ago.
The Royal Palace. Quite small by Asian standards and photographs were not allowed. You enter into the throne room with impressive golden painted lotus thrones. The bright red walls have fabulous Japanese glass mosaics depicting people and local scenes. The royal apartments are surprisingly small with polished teak floors and furnished as it was when the Royal Family left. It is now the National Museum.

The temple on the grounds contains the Pra Bang Buddha, one of the most revered in Laos.

A large statue of Sisavangvong faces the Winter Palace now used for dance performances.
After the Communist takeover the royal family was taken into exile and died in very mysterious circumstances.
A street seller sets up shop for the evening Handicraft Market.
Wat Mai Suwannaphumahan
Small shops on the main street. There were also lots of airconditioned upscale shops all over town.

There were monks everywhere which was to be expected given the large number of Wats in town. The lobby of my hotel. Some staff slept here during the night.
The Scandanavian Bakery. The local branch of my favorite Vientiane restaurant. Not as good but it will do in a pinch.
Wat Suwannaphumaham again. Two monks were busy ringing the huge drum.

In the center of town was a steep hill with a small Wat on top. Wonderful views from here at sunrise and sunset but a steep slippery climb.
Tiny inset Buddhas.



And the fabulous brass doors.

A brass relief at the outside of the building.