Sabadee (hello) from Luang Prabang, Laos

Arrived at a brand new international airport, open only a few months, and discover squat toilets in women's bathroom.  Hmmmm, I wonder, what will I find at the hotel?!? Fortunately, regular toilets but very low to the ground. Very small people these Laotians!

You have to get an entry visa upon arrival and a big sign shows every country in the world and the cost a visa depending on the country you are entering from. Canadians pay the highest of EVERY country in the world! I guess we don't give Laos much international aid!

Lunang Prabang is a UNESCO heritage site. It is a charming, quiet, picturesque town filled with temples (34 of them) and saffron-clad monks.  What a nice change from Hanoi! situated on the confluence of the Mekong and Khan rivers, the  multi-layered roofs on the temples and the bejeweled goddess statues give it a  very Thai look. The people are smiling, happy, friendly, eager to please..

Awaiting us at the hotel, was 'happy anniversary' spelled out on our bed with bamboo and flowers, as well as a happy anniversary cake. Nice touch.  Beautiful hotel.  It used to be the home of a  prince.

Guide books describe it as a lazy town, lush with colors and fragrances.  So true. Also so spiritual. We got up at 5:30 a.m. to see the dawn procession do the monks.  Townspeople line the main street to put food in the buckets carried by the monks.   We bought sticky rice and a plate of cookies and bananas from a local woman, who then wraps a Tallis-like scarf around you  to show you are a 'giver'. As the monks file by, some of them just young boys, you put a ball of rice in their bucket.  A spiritual version of Halloween! This is the only food they have for the day so it is a mitzvah to feed them.

Later we climbed the 200 steps to the largest temple in the city.  The views from there are fabulous.  We bought 2 tiny birds in a bamboo cage which you release from the top for good luck..

Thank you is 'hop Thai' and we are sure saying that a lot.  Otherwise, most people seem to have a smattering of English..

Spent the afternoon being pampered at the spa. So good and soooooo inexpensive.  They have one of those places here where fish nibble the dead skin off your feet.  We are thinking about doing it if we can get past the icky ness of how we think it will feel!