New Page 1

Royal ceremonial barge

DIY project at Wat Xieng Thon - 2005

2007

Two years earlier Tony and I had watched monks erecting a building. I was interested to see what they had built with minimum equipment and no safety gear at all

Some mornings it was still quite dark as we headed from the Tak Bat along the river

Too often we were heading to the Joma Bakery for bacon and eggs and the Bangkok Post crossword. I am a bad influence on Barbara in that regard, I think she only ever eats bacon with me. Fortunately the bakery is at the opposite end of town so we got some exercise on the way

Joma Bakery

Monks hurrying to school

There is always something to delight in Luang Prabang

Small monastery gardens

Children in schoolyards

Food to be prepared

Buildings to be built

And art to be appreciated along the Nam Khan river bank opposite our guesthouse

Mount Phou Si - Sacred Hill
Is on a peninsular between the Mekong and the Nam Khan rivers, from the summit there is a 360 degree view of Luang Prabang. For this reason it is the place to be for either sunrise or sunset. You can climb from either side. We decide to go up the 355 steps from the Mekong and down to the main road of the old town opposite the charming Royal Palace Museum

Late afternoon view of the Mekong from part way up Phou Si

Drums are sounded at 4.00pm and 4.00 am here and in Wats around town

Reclining Buddha Wat Tham Phousi

Marigolds and incense at Wat Chomsi atop Mount Phou Si