According to local legend, Tat Kuang Si was formed when a wise old man dug into the earth and revealed the waters of the Nam Si River. After the water came to Kuang Si, a golden deer made its home under a huge rock that protruded from the falls.
Laos
The most bombed country on the planet.
Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre
How does copyright fail a culture? This question anchored one of the most thought-provoking experiences of our time in Luang Prabang, thanks to an exhibition at the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC). For anyone traveling through Laos, TAEC is a must-visit.
Wandering and Wat Manorom
After an unsuccessful attempt to visit the UXO center in Luang Prabang, we decided to take a leisurely stroll around the city instead. It’s a small city compared to the sprawling metropolises we were used to in China; but that didn’t mean there wasn’t anything new to discover.
UXO Laos Visitor Center (ish)
My friend had recommended the UXO Laos Visitor Center to me when we were in Thailand. So on our second day in Luang Prabang we set out to pay it a visit. We hoped for an eye-opening look at the most significant challenge facing Laos.
Enjoying Laos BBQ at Seendat
After a day immersed within Luang Prabang’s temples and palaces, our thoughts turned to something more immediate: food. Craving something different to the night market fare, we decided to hunt down something local and unique. We settled on a seemingly small restaurant selling a local style of hotpot.
Wat May Souvannapoumaram
On Market Street in Luang Prabang, next to the Palace Grounds that house the National Museum, stands Wat May Souvannapoumaram, also known as Wat May. Built in the 18th century, this is the largest temple in Luang Prabang.
Luang Prabang National Museum
After a good night’s sleep in the Rimvang Hostel we had to start making plans for our first week in Laos. We had seen an obvious place to visit next to the night market: the Luang Prabang National Museum.
Luang Prabang Night Market
After two long days travelling by slow boat on the steady current of the Mekong River, we were ready to plant our feet in Luang Prabang. Its promise of street markets and quiet charm would be a welcome change.
Slow Boat to Luang Prabang
We were in Huay Xai, a border city in Laos. Across the river we could still see Thailand, a place we were already missing. On that day we would take the slow boat to Luang Prabang, a journey that would span multiple days.
Thai/Laos Border Crossing
Our visa extensions were running out, so our time in Thailand was coming to a close. We had elected to cross the border from Thailand to Laos, and take a slow boat along the Mekong River.