Luang Prabang – The Pearl of the Orient

Posted: September 27, 2022 by Ovi

So peaceful and tranquil, being in Luang Prabang (Laos) is like going back in time! With lantern-lit streets, Indochinese architecture, French villas and the Mekong River – Luang Prabang is a place where you wish you can stay forever.

“Luang Prabang (ຫລວງພະບາງ) slows your pulse and awakens your imagination” – Lonely Planet

The story and the photos

Most of the time I rode a bicycle, speeding through the city and passing motor-bikes, tuk-tuks and racing with the school children. Or walking through the streets and visiting the temples here.

Luang Prabang

Haw Pha Bang royal temple, Luang Rabang

Haw Pha Bang royal temple

Budhist monks

Wat Xieng Thong temple

The longest ride was 64 kilometers back and forth to the Tat Kuang Si Falls bringing back memories of long bike rides with my childhood friends…

In the day of the ride was a celebration in Laos and people where drinking and singing. At the falls I was invited to join a group of beer drinking men. “Knyiok” is like “Cheers”. They drink beer with ice, one at a time. One guy has the glass filled with beer. He drinks. After he finished, the next guy has his glass filled with beer. And so on. Never two guys drink beer at the same time.

On the way to the falls I stopped to a couple of villages. Curious children were following me and they were happy to pose in exchange for candies. At the time we arrived at the candies store, the group has grown from 10 to about 30 children! Don’t forget to count the children, otherwise they will fight for candies.

Laos village hut

School children

Chldren posing

Small girl with doll

Making noodles

Two boys

The visit to the Night Market became very interesting when I discovered many, many bottles, all sizes, with small and big snakes, cobras and spiders, all “floating” in Lao whiskey! The believe is the drink gives power to men.

Healthy herb whisky

Fish and meat on a stick

Wild medicine!

The first marriage proposal! Two retired police officers tried to convince me at a glass of whiskey to marry the daughter of one of them. “The Lao wife is the best” – they said, and I do believe them!

“Be careful before you will do or say something because it may illegal of Laos” (sic) – Guesthouse room notice

In Luang Prabang you don’t see ads. How a city would look without any advertising? Very nice and relaxing for the eyes! It is very strange to see on the streets the red communist flag. Laos is a popular democratic country where you should be careful about what are you doing or what are you talking.