{"id":6606,"date":"2017-02-04T08:00:07","date_gmt":"2017-02-04T15:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventureswithinreach.com\/travel\/?p=6606"},"modified":"2017-01-31T08:15:44","modified_gmt":"2017-01-31T15:15:44","slug":"trip-report-laos-december-2016-january-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventureswithinreach.com\/travel\/2017\/02\/04\/trip-report-laos-december-2016-january-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"Trip Report: Laos: December 2016-January 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here is the continuation of Tina C.’s trip journal – covering the Laos portion of her multi-family group’s trip (11 people) to Southeast Asia. \u00a0We customized our 16-Day Southeast Asia Explorer: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia trip<\/a> for these clients. Many thanks to Tina C., who agreed to allow us to publish her trip report.<\/p>\n

\"\"Traveler:<\/strong>\u00a0Tina C.
\nTravel Dates: <\/strong>December 29, 2016-January 1, 2017
\nDestination Visited:\u00a0<\/strong>Laos<\/span><\/p>\n

DAY 6 – Luang Prabang, Laos<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

At the airport, we said our goodbyes to Damveeth, and took our flight to Luang Prabang, Laos<\/strong> for our next adventure. . . .\u00a0<\/span>We arrived in Laos in the evening, and were met by our local guide Vong, and his driver Ham.\u00a0 <\/span>It was waaay cooler in Luang Prabang, and far less crowded with a small town feel.\u00a0 <\/span>We got to our VERY QUAINT AND CHARMING hotel Villa Maydou, in the dark, but the lovely, lush grounds were sooooo inviting and beautiful, I was instantly excited and happy about our three-night stay here.\u00a0 <\/span>We got our rooms and head out on foot, in search of a resto for dinner.\u00a0 <\/span>The town was located on a peninsula and had the feel of a ski village, rather than a third-world, densely populated, country.\u00a0 <\/span>We ate our first Laotian meal on the terrace of a nice restaurant. . . .\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>We walked back to our hotel and enjoyed (tolerated) Laotian karaoke en route, and called it a night!<\/span><\/p>\n

DAY 7 – Luang Prabang & Kuang Si Waterfalls<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Oh my…far cooler here, as we embraced breakfast outdoors at our sweet resort.\u00a0. . . \u00a0<\/span>We went out with Vong to see the Buddhist temples of Luang Prabang<\/strong>, and learn of the local history.\u00a0. . . <\/span>We walked across the bamboo bridge and got some great pics with the local monks-in-training!\u00a0 <\/span>After lunch we were driven an hour outside of town to the Kuang Si Waterfalls<\/strong>, where the guys all jumped into the shallow river, and gave Mommy heart attacks as they walked over rocks with gushing streams of water…???!\u00a0 <\/span>We were very excited to see the W’s as they were arriving upon our return from our day…yay!!!\u00a0 <\/span>Lots of hugs and good cheer seeing them, followed by drinks around the pool at the lovely Villa Maydou.\u00a0 <\/span>Out for dinner together at L’Elephant, a French cuisine resto for a little change of pace, and a yummy meal!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

DAY 8 – Luang Prabang (Monk Ritual, Sidewalk Market, Mekong River, Buddha Cave, & Traditional Buddhist Blessing)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

NEW YEAR’S EVE!!!<\/span><\/p>\n

Today we got up BEFORE THE CRACK OF DAWN (wth with these early mornings?!!! ?)\u00a0 <\/span>Just joooooooookes…love love love the experiences they offer…?!\u00a0 <\/span>We were participating in a community ritual that takes place daily at dawn…the offering of cooked sticky rice and packaged sundries for all the monks, and monks-in-training (i.e. young boys) of Luang Prabang.\u00a0 <\/span>The rice is prepared in steamer baskets early that morning by the families of the community and packaged cookies and biscuits are gathered in small baskets, next to a small, plastic stool, on which we sat, lining the roadside (talk about WHITE CARB LOADING!).\u00a0 <\/span>200 monks walked by with a silver bowl strapped across their shoulders, and we dropped small balls of sticky rice into each bowl along with a package of cookies.\u00a0 <\/span>They eat only twice per day, breakfast and lunch, forgoing the dinner meal (perhaps I should try this and coin it THE MONK DIET…think it’ll catch on?\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe if instead of dinner, you got wine???).\u00a0 <\/span>Families also prepare vegetables, meats and curries and bring them to the temples for their consumption.\u00a0 <\/span>It was positively surreal to be lined up by the side of the road, offering a slew of barefoot and serene monks, their food for the day…WHAT A LIFE EXPERIENCE!\u00a0 <\/span>I took note of a very young, poor and barefoot girl, who sat roadside with her own basket (in prayer hands), hoping to receive some offerings from the monks.\u00a0 <\/span>It was incredible to be a part of this community exercise, and a definite highlight for all of us.\u00a0 <\/span>I think we all took note of our good fortune.<\/span><\/p>\n

Afterward, Vong took us through a sidewalk market<\/strong>, where people bought their food for the day or week.\u00a0 <\/span>Another incredible experience for the senses…DEEP-FRIED BATS, RATS, and just about anything else you can imagine IN nature, or ON THE BODY of nature!!!\u00a0 <\/span>Coconut hot cakes were sampled…coulda had SEVERAL OF THOSE!!!\u00a0 <\/span>We returned for breakfast and proceeded to get ready for…can you guess…wait for it…LUNCH!\u00a0 <\/span>Ack…hoping my scale is busted at home!\u00a0 <\/span>We went to Auntie Pheng’s home for a homecooked lunch<\/strong> in her garden!\u00a0 <\/span>We were served soup, steamed rice, a fantastic whitefish marinated and cooked in banana leaves, salad, and other vegetables, and lovely fresh fruit for dessert.\u00a0 <\/span>The family had a beautiful home with lots of the local teak furniture and flooring, common to the area.\u00a0 <\/span>Neato!<\/span><\/p>\n

Afterwards, we drove out to The Mekong River<\/strong>…(HOW OFTEN DO WE SAY THAT?) to board longboats for our riverboat cruise and cave explorations.\u00a0 <\/span>We jet-boated up THE MEKONG (!!!) to see these caves that held thousands of Buddhas<\/strong> over many centuries.\u00a0 <\/span>People took refuge within the caves during the war, and have been bringing Buddha sculptures there for years.\u00a0 <\/span>On the way back, we stopped at a silk shop\/restaurant along the river . . . .\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Back at the hotel afterward to prepare for another truly epic cultural experience…and our New Year’s Eve dinner!<\/span><\/p>\n

Our guide had coordinated a traditional, Buddhist blessing<\/strong> by a Vietnamese family and their elders, in their home.\u00a0 <\/span>We were invited into their humble home, and sat in a circle on small stools, as they sat on the floor before us.\u00a0 <\/span>There was a large tray holding many flowers, fruits, and other sweets, as well as a large collection of white cotton strings.\u00a0 <\/span>The main elder said many prayers and then every member of the family tied a white string to each of our wrists, whilst saying a prayer.\u00a0 <\/span>It was absolutely fascinating to take part in such a ceremony…performed on auspicious occasions and during milestone moments in their lives (marriage, first home, new baby, moving out, etc.).\u00a0 <\/span>Afterward, they poured pure moonshine from water bottles into small glasses for us to toast…a surreal experience!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Off to our New Year’s Eve dinner at Tamarind…a resto recommended by our guides, and booked for an early dinner.\u00a0 <\/span>We toasted the New Year and enjoyed a nice dinner with best friends…I couldn’t have felt happier. \u2764\ufe0f\u00a0 <\/span>After dinner, we walked over the bamboo bridge in search of our table on THE MEKONG for drinks.\u00a0 <\/span>Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be as they had given away our large riverside table to another group, despite reservations.\u00a0 <\/span>So we walked back to our beautiful resort, and enjoyed drinks around the pool…all good!\u00a0 <\/span>While many turned in well before midnight, K., R. and C. threw each other in the pool, and G. and I enjoyed a nice chat.\u00a0 <\/span>Since I was still up at midnight, I ran out to the pool deck to wish my 3 boys (C. is now officially a third son) a Happy 2017!<\/span><\/p>\n

DAY 9 – Luang\u00a0Prabang<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We essentially had the day free until our late afternoon departure. So after a leisurely breakfast, and checkout, we took off by large tuk tuk (effectively a pickup truck with bench seating for 11!), in search of a riverside resto for lunch.\u00a0 <\/span>It was raining for the first time since we’d arrived in SE Asia, and I looked RATHER STYLISH in my rain gear, multiple layers, rain cap, and sunglasses!\u00a0 <\/span>A-MAZED that my kids walked anywhere NEAR ME that afternoon…oh wait…where were they?!!!\u00a0 <\/span>We found a nice place after some searching (11 is a BIIIGGGG table), and had some awesome green and red curry and other yummies before high-tailing it back on foot to catch our ride to the airport.\u00a0 <\/span>Bye bye Laos!\u00a0 <\/span>HELLLOOOOO VIETNAM!!!<\/span><\/p>\n

[If Laos appeals to you, please visit our Laos Tours<\/a> page. \u00a0To read more about Tina C.’s group trip, follow the links below:<\/span><\/p>\n