Sabaidee!

After an amazing stay in Chiang Mai we hopped on a plane and made the short journey up to Luang Prabang, Laos.  This beautiful town is surrounded by lush mountains and straddles both the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers.  It was at a restaurant on the banks of the Mekong where we ate our first Lao dinner.  From there we made our way to the local night market.  Famous for its handcrafted goods from local hill tribes, this colorful bazaar instantly captivated everyone in our group.

The next day we explored from morning until night.  First, we went to an organic rice farm tucked away against the mountains where we learned first-hand how rice is grown, harvested, and prepared from seed to plate.  

Next, we went to the UXO (Unexploded Ordnance) Visitor Center.  This small museum and informational exhibit details the struggle Lao people have endured ever since the Vietnam War when millions of bombs were dropped on the countryside, a third of which failed to explode.  Even to this day farmers and children stumble across them.

After that we made our way up to Wat Phu Si, a hill top temple in the center of Luang Prabang.  Aside from the important temple here where Bhuddha is believed to have visited during his lifetime, the views offered of the city from atop the mountain were stunning.  

Next we ate dinner and went back to the night market for more shopping and mingling before heading to bed to rest up for our weekend in the Hmong village!

Until the next update,

Alyssa and Ryan