I lazily waited until almost five pm before going on this trek so it wouldn't be hot saving me from having another sweaty or sunburnt experience. It can get really oven-like here from around noon until sunset, but the mornings and evenings are chill.
Luang Prabang is surrounded by mountains and jungle. It is a pleasant mixture of a town surrounded by and merged with nature. This is why it was chosen as a World Heritage Site. This means that buildings can't be over the traditional two stories and new construction must reflect the same ancient and French inspired architecture. Many people here are very wealthy so its feeling of being stuck in time is by design, not a lack of capital.
It's also a very old town. This tree has been here longer than anyone alive remembers. Hundreds of years ago folks were worrying about how to make a living and many of the same things we stress over today all while this tree continued to expand its existence. It looks like a bunch of trees who decided to merge into one.
I live down Pho Vao Road here. It is the only straight two lane road in town. It is about one kilometer long. You can get around town on foot fine, but most places are less than five minutes away by bike.
The northwest end of the road has a monument and riverside park. They will usually have many flowers presented here.
Here's the side view. I was missing travel blogging and had the misfortune of having my phone jacked so I was without a camera for a while. With the little cash I could muster, I picked up an old beat up iPhone 6 for thirty bucks. It takes just as good pictures as the modern Samsung did, so it's all good now.
This monument is for their first president. Before 1975 Laos was a monarchy with Luang Prang as the capitol, but Vientiane is the center of power now.
Sunset is my favorite time here because everyone comes out to jog, bicycle, and walk. There is a five am offering to the monks ceremony everyday, but the evenings are the most social times.
Having lived by the sea in California for so long, I'd never imagined enjoying life in a landlocked nation. I really love surfing and sailing, so coming to a place like Laos never occured to me until I came here in 2018 on a road trip with my bro from the navy. I think The Mekong River gives life that by the sea feel.
It takes a strong swimmer over twenty minutes to cross, but you can take the ferry or a small boat for about a dollar.
Tuk Tuks looked funny and way out of date to me when I first saw them here in 2001. I was sure they would become a thing of the past, but they're a stubborn one. There could be an entire show based on all the crazy Tuk Tuk stories over the years. They are playing Pétanque behind the Tuk Tuk, but don't like being photographed, so I settled for this shot. I'm not sure how the wager goes, but top players never pay and drink free.
Speaking of stubborn things that continue to survive, it was groovy to see some skaters. I remember there used to be a variety of skateboards until these became the standard. When AI balance assist electric skateboards can be 3D printed cheaply, there will be an explosion of these krazy kats. They'll still use these types of boards getting boosts and tows from friends with power. Maybe they'll just stick to these boards forever, either way the skaters are here to stay.
Six months into the lockdown most foreigners and tourists have left. Most sites and holy spots are completely empty except for a monk or two. It feels sureal to be living here during these strange times. It feels like a blessing too.
I love that people have been praying and meditating here for hundreds of years. It gives it both a historic and spiritual energy. Some may think that it's all psychological, but you can feel the souls, history, hate, and love here.
Thanks for going on this five kilometer hike around town with me. The old iPhone I used to take these pictures has a battery on its last leg. It would lose about five percent battery with every shot, but it still captured the walk well. Take care.