Posts Tagged ‘Luang Prabang’


The orange-clad monk beamed with his 3-teeth grin and his wispy 3-haired beard. Opening the door to his living quarters, he pointed to the television blaring in the corner. ‘Waw’ – bull, he chuckled. The crowd on the television, and the monk cheered as the two bulls locked horns. A thumbs-up from the monk. Evening entertainment at the temple.

Mark and the monk

Mark and the monk

Today was a cycle to the bottom of the high pass, and see what the universe provides for accommodation. Mark had sent his tent back home from Luang Prabang, and I had sent home my cooking equipment. We were much lighter, and could speed over the hills, but we couldn’t camp tonight. We knew there was no guesthouse on the way.
No, we couldn’t stay in the little restaurant, or in someone’s shed. The monks were lovely, and set up a sleeping place for us on their verandah. My first time sleeping at a Buddhist temple. ☺

Mark charmed the kids repeatedly in the little villages and at the temple.

The kids

The kids

Today was hilly, and steep in parts. Tomorrow is the big climb that everyone warns us about. Steep, steep, steep, apparently.

Riding to our temple home

Riding to our temple home


I wasn’t expecting it, but, today turned into a head-down and burn the kilometre day. Cycling along the ‘Sabai dee’ valley of little kids waving in excitement, we made it to the beautiful jewel of Laos – Luang Prabang.

River

River

With Luang Prabang 140km away, and with the limited daylight hours, and evening spent on the way seemed inevitable. After an early start, and a quick 1000m descent along improved roads, we started out eating the kilometres to our distant goal. The mountains got pointier, and we hit the languid river that would follow us into Luang Prabang. Beautiful.

The river

The river

River

River