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.

We took a different route back to Old City, and passed by a shop showcasing beautifully crafted basket-weave products. There were intricate baskets, backpacks, chairs, and brooms among the display, a small example of the craftsmanship that thrives in Laos.

We followed a road along a small river, and stumbled across a temple with a sign declaring it to be Vat Manorom. The sign bore the Laos National Flag and the flag of the Laos Buddhist Association. Luang Prabang is home to 33 Buddhist temples, many of them popular tourist destinations. This particular temple was empty and quiet. Perhaps this one is less frequently visited.

We ventured inside to take a look around. It was eerily quiet and still with no people around to give it life. Unlike the more popular temples, there was no one around to request donations or sell tickets. This gave the place a calm, peaceful atmosphere.

Though small, it had all the trappings that make up a typical Buddhist temple in Laos: a gold stupa, a place for teaching, a shrine with a giant Buddha, and a golden prayer room were many of the treasures are kept.

One thing that made this temple stand out was the lack of Nagas, something you would typically see guarding the gates of many temples in Laos. They have lions guarding the gates and doorways instead of many-headed serpents. I didn’t notice it at the time, but it struck me while I was reviewing the photos later.

After a short exploration we left the temple and continued our way back to town. Just outside the temple we found a couple of butterflies dancing with each other. I realise now that these are actually Christmas Butterflies, a species I recently added to my Minecraft mod.