Magical Laos

mountainous terrain in Laos

 Laos is a country of villages. It is probably because of the mountainous terrain that explained why a bus trip to Luang Prabang from Chiang Mai just wasnt possible. We realized this clearly from the air.

Luang Prabang, in northern Laos where the Nam Khan and Mekong rivers meet, is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. This small town has old French architecture, royal palaces and over 33 temples. The Buddhist monks to live here are a large influence on the personality of the  town from the predawn Alms Giving Ceremony, to a daily attitude of respect and calm by the townspeople.

flying over Mekong River in Laos

where the rivers meet as seen from the town's riverside park

It was national day so the country and the party flags were flying. Party - sickle and hammer!

colorful tuk tuks

townsman praying on side of street

a peek at side patio of historic home-orchids!

another view of the rivers and the busy boat traffic

nice digs! Balcony overlooks pool

Our hotel, Le Palais Juliana was surrounded with lush greenery and their own organic farm where our dinner's greens originated. The rooms were beautiful and dinner delicious.

the extra private bungalows across the pond

Turk checks out hotel's organic farm used for our restaurant

our hotel pool and cabana

delicious Laotian dinner

door knobs 

We were greeted in Luang Prabang with the Bai-ci Welcome Ceremony. This ceremony is held for happy occasions and our arrival was that!  We entered a room where a dozen townspeople were sitting on the floor around a tall arrangement of flowers on a platter holding various small portions of food (like appetizers).  The arrangement also contained cotton threads cut long enough to tie around our wrists. Oh, and rice whiskey is part of this ceremony!                                                                                                         

pha kwan - arrangement for Baci ceremony

Once we arrived, we sat on the ground or chairs facing the townspeople. An elder, who was a former monk, changed a Buddhist mantra that calls for the return of wandering kwan, our individual spirits (which are vital to our body's health and when they 'wander', our body gets out of equilibrium and unpleasant things can happen).

After the chanting, the townspeople collected the cotton strings from the pha kwan and came to each of us as we outstretched our hands.  Our greeter chanted as they tied a string on each wrist. Each townsperson did the same for each of us so that we all had our forearms covered in tied strings.   

Once we were all 'tied', the food and rice whiskey made the rounds.  And then the remaining flower centerpiece was handed to one of our group to be given as an offering at a holy cave we would visit the next day.

townspeople and our guide as the chanting begins

Turk gets his wrists tied as woman chants a blessing. I am on floor next to him.