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| Night Market and temples, at downhill of Khousi Temple, Luang Prabang |
During tubing activity in Vang Vieng, i met with a Chinese family who stop by in Vang Vieng for holiday they took the same sleeper bus towards Luang Prabang. This family came from Kun Ming; consist of a mother who is still beautiful and everyone misaddress her as a sister, a teenage boy who just started his college in Viantianne and an old guy who act as both a brother for the lady and uncle. They cant speak English fluently, even the lady doesn’t know English at all, but they always try to interact with others with any language. They’re nice, kind and helpful. Even when we met again in Luang Prabang on the next day, they still warmly greeting me and talk a lot about how they spent their daytime.
After spent a night in Vang Vieng, booked fun packages including the sleeper bus, I hardly said goodbye to Vang Vieng. Maybe I will pass the same road again on my way back to Viantianne from Luang Prabang, but I don’t think that I can see much since it will be another overnight trip. Together with those family, we waited for the bus in front of the tour office, but instead of the bus; a huge tuk tuk picked us and drove to the Vang Vieng Bus Station.
We stopped by at Luang Prabang bus station very early in the morning. Even it not yet reaching Shubuh Praying time. The bus station almost empty, only few tuk-tuk driver who suddenly run after us; offering not free ride to our hostel. I just went out together with other passengers and shared tuk-tuk since its all should be cost the same. Or it is not?
One of Tuk-Tuk Driver ask us for 20,000 KIP per person, while others charge more. I knew it because I’ve met a family who booked one tuk-tuk for the whole family and being charged more. The girl asked us and go back to the other driver, ready for bargain. While, another European girls keep bargaining our driver eventhough the price its already fixed and all of their belonging has been lodged. The worst, the shouted with inappropriate manner. Some of us prefer to pay the rest of amount that she want to bargain of.
That’s the art of travel. Even more complicated for Solo Traveler. Be nice with locals, but still keep being aware to avoid any misinterpretation and misunderstanding.
In Laos, people are strictly encouraged to address themselves properly especially on how to get dressed. We can find any prohibition signed located in some public area. And what I love the most about this place is, the obedience of the local on what they believe and worship. In India, I have been fluttered with how people adore Ganges River and no matter it looks like, they believe it is a blessing from God. In Luang Prabang, Budhist become majority. Monks are priceless thing to look after.
In the morning, the ladies in Luang Prabang are sitting in front at their house (main street) with some food. While the monks will go out from the temple and walk around the city to take foods. This morning ceremony best known as arms giving or Tabat.
I was lucky since I reached guesthouse very early in the morning, so after having my Shubuh prayer, I still have a time to walk around. Not just lucky, I met with two Thailand guys who intended to join Tabat Ceremony. They bought some foods from locals and kneel at the main street. And I joined them.
What is a lil bit strange for me? The monks mostly are motionless. I remembered the spiritual teacher in Monkey King then (kidding). They are not even smile, or giving a short thanks.
In Laos, monks are prohibited to have skinship (being touched) by the ladies. And the other man will ensure that such a thing never happened. For example, when its come to ride the bus, monks will have a seat first. During queuing all man will stand and build a bridge to cover the monks. Or some ladies will voluntarily change the seat when she knew that the monks will get into the vehicles while the remaining seat left is the one which is next to her. Superb.
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| Almsgiving (Tabat) in Laos |
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| Two Thai guys, before I joined them |
After the Tabat ceremony, I go back to the hostel, take a shower and book a daytrip to Khuang Si Waterfall. Its one of the most visited place in Luang Prabang. It cost only USD 5 (Yes, you also can paid USD In here) excluding entrance fee with cost of KIP 20,000. The ride was a nice car with capacity around 9-12 peoples. The car picked us at the guesthouse, 1 hours ride to the waterfall and picked up again at 3 PM in the evening. And the waterfall itselfs has different landscape compare to most of the waterfall I’ve ever seen before. The surrounding forestry was superb, especially the water that flowing within the forest; its combination of pool and the lake inside the forest. Love it so much.
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| Khuangsi Waterfall |
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| Forestry around waterfall. |
Tiring from wet wet activities, at night i decided to just walk around the central market that located only at walking distance from my hostel. Surprisingly, the night market was huge. Even I make a comeback on the next day to buy some more stuffs there. And for sure, rendezvous with both Chinese Family and Spain’s couple.
FYI, my hostel is not really a hostel. It called itself as guesthouse. I never prebooked a room at this place, just took some notes based on review in the hostelworld.com or hostel.com. So, arrived here safely very early in the morning is much much gambling. Because mostly the room are fully occupied, and that day, I bring along my new companions, I made my journey with 2 guys from Malaysia and South Korea. Nice combination huh, but all I said that’s it was super fun!!!
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| Khounsavan Guesthouse - Luang Prabang |
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| Luang Prabang Night Market |
The room and facility as good as the review. And both of my companion have no negative comment on my choice. I am the leader (wakakak).
The next day, I’m dreaming of cycling around the city. Enjoying the view with the nice weather and calming ambience of this heritage city but yeah it’s a dream. I’m not allowed to do hard activities on my left knee, remember? So I spent my morning by walking around the area. Visit the closest temple and observe monks activity. The monks are live, study and eat there. Foods are coming from people. While they were lived in serenity.
And what next? I’m experiencing of being a truly wanderer. I just sleeplessly lay down at the terrace of the guesthouse. Dreaming again, enjoying the view and releasing all of the burdened and thought left in my mind. I Know how it feels to be totally free. Jobless and wandering around. Until the damn things, a fact that I need more money to do this more hahahah.
I took a break for a moment. Its time to send postcards. Yeah, I start to love doing this after got some from a friends and join postcrossing community. Again, post office is on walking distance from guesthouse.
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| Just laydown all day hoho |
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| Oppa with his viatnamese cap |
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| Post Office at Luang Prabang |
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| I missed the sunset Hiks |
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| View from the top |
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| Khousi temple |
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| Remind me a lot to Sarnath, India |
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| After a short tracking to the top. Tired |
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| Pick the cup and they will make a juice for us. |
After having around 12 pcs t-shirts (WoW), I went back to the guesthouse and packed my belonging. Its time to leave.. Be ready for 8 hours overnite ride to Viantianne.
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