Luang Prabang
I haven't posted pictures for a while, so here's a quick update.
Brave enough to try a taste of this?
I couldn't resist sharing such a stunning pose by my sister.
Vang vieng, showing its beautiful side. (The other side... a long row of restaurants showing "Friends" all day long, we'll ignore for the moment...)
Things are modernizing quickly in Laos. Truly, it isn't the same place as when I visited 6 years ago. It makes me sad.
The Engrish in Laos is quite impressive! I'll soon have some interesting menus to post from Vietnam, but you'll just have to wait.
The spectacular Kuang Xi waterfall near Luang Prabang. We had to climb a ways along dripping rocks to get to this secluded area (marked "Danger!), but it's well worth it. In this photo you can barely see a swimming hole in the bottom right. From the falls you can look out on the pools and people below.
A view of Luang Prabang from the road a few km away. As you can see, even here it is swarming with tourists.
The night market in Luang Prabang.
What saddened me most of all -- tourists pointing cameras directly in the faces of the monks collecting their morning offerings of food at dawn. Flash. Flash. And profiteers selling sticky rice to foreigners at super-inflated prices so the foreigners can give chunks of rice to the monks as they go by.
As you've probably gleaned, I was disappointed with Laos this time around. When I was here previously, it was a welcome break from the bustle and commercialism of Thailand. This time, it seemed so touristy and commercial that I wish we hadn't gone.
Fortunately, so far Hanoi is far exceeding my expectations! Perhaps it reminds me of a cleaner and slightly toned-down India. Tomorrow we leave early for Halong Bay, where we will spend a night on a boat, and then a night on Cat Ba island near a national park.
Brave enough to try a taste of this?
I couldn't resist sharing such a stunning pose by my sister.
Vang vieng, showing its beautiful side. (The other side... a long row of restaurants showing "Friends" all day long, we'll ignore for the moment...)
Things are modernizing quickly in Laos. Truly, it isn't the same place as when I visited 6 years ago. It makes me sad.
The Engrish in Laos is quite impressive! I'll soon have some interesting menus to post from Vietnam, but you'll just have to wait.
The spectacular Kuang Xi waterfall near Luang Prabang. We had to climb a ways along dripping rocks to get to this secluded area (marked "Danger!), but it's well worth it. In this photo you can barely see a swimming hole in the bottom right. From the falls you can look out on the pools and people below.
A view of Luang Prabang from the road a few km away. As you can see, even here it is swarming with tourists.
The night market in Luang Prabang.
What saddened me most of all -- tourists pointing cameras directly in the faces of the monks collecting their morning offerings of food at dawn. Flash. Flash. And profiteers selling sticky rice to foreigners at super-inflated prices so the foreigners can give chunks of rice to the monks as they go by.
As you've probably gleaned, I was disappointed with Laos this time around. When I was here previously, it was a welcome break from the bustle and commercialism of Thailand. This time, it seemed so touristy and commercial that I wish we hadn't gone.
Fortunately, so far Hanoi is far exceeding my expectations! Perhaps it reminds me of a cleaner and slightly toned-down India. Tomorrow we leave early for Halong Bay, where we will spend a night on a boat, and then a night on Cat Ba island near a national park.