Cal and VA | Adventures | Southeast Asia

Previous Day Prev P

Next Day Next N

Sunday 26 February 2023 - Up very early to participate in Tak Bat which means "to present food to a monk or Buddhist priest". Daily in Luang Prabang tourists and locals wait on the sidewalk and give food to monks passing by silently.

southeastasia2023 — Virginia Ann is prepared with her place on the sidewalk, food to present, and her phone for pictures.

southeastasia2023 — Vendors get up very early to prepare the sidewalks for tourists - who pay to have a seat and for food to give to the monks.

southeastasia2023 — We were along the sidewalk outside Wat Nong Sikhounmuang which had the lights on in the dark.

southeastasia2023 — Another shrine lit up in the early hours.

southeastasia2023 — The monks coming down the sidewalk - Virginia Ann is ready with her food.

southeastasia2023 — The line of colorful monks as they pass Wat Nong Sikhounmuang.

southeastasia2023 — Virginia Ann places rice and crackers into the passing monk's bag.

southeastasia2023 — Very colorful procession - there were many tourists and many monks so it all balances out. Luang Prabang was the capital of Laos for a long time and the center of religion so there are many temples in and around the city.

southeastasia2023 — Virginia Ann captures a woman feeding the monks - this is a little monk.

southeastasia2023 — No tourists (except for us) on this street - here the locals practice Tak Bat.

southeastasia2023 — We skipped breakfast and drove to the waterfalls at Kuang Si. It was a great move as it was still too early for tourists. There was one person ahead of us. The 150-foot falls were spectacular.

We had great quiet time at the falls and then a nice breakfast picnic.

southeastasia2023 — Virginia Ann and Cal at Kuang Si falls.

The Kuang Si falls in motion.

southeastasia2023 — The layered rock and blue water reminded us of Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon . See the pictures here

southeastasia2023 — Popular swimming hole - fortunately the weather was cool and we were early - so no humans.

southeastasia2023 — Very pretty falls - several of them down the trail.

southeastasia2023 — Another great swimming hole - beautiful clear blue water.

southeastasia2023 — Cascades - it was hard for Cal to keep up with the others as he wanted to stop at every turn to take pictures.

southeastasia2023 — An old footbridge over the stream.

southeastasia2023 — At the base of the park is a bear rescue center - operated by Free the Bears it is home to over 20 Asiatic Black Bears rescued from a variety of circumstances. Cute little bear with the brown patch on his chest.

southeastasia2023 — A street food vendor is getting ready for the crowds.

southeastasia2023 — Our tour included a stop at the Luang Prabang Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre. The center is a social enterprise founded in 2006 to promote the appreciation and transmission of Laos' ethnic cultural heritage and livelihoods based on traditional skills.

We were giving a guided tour by the director of the museum.

Hmong cloth for men or women using coins at the base.

southeastasia2023 — This is Tai Dam, handmade textiles. The Tai Dam left Vietnam after the fall of the French in 1955 and fled to Laos.

The bell like objects on the tassels are silk worm cocoons cut and sewn into the tassel.

southeastasia2023 — A bamboo bridge over the Nam Khan River - like the one we saw the day before these bridges are taken down in June prior to the rainy season and then built again in November after the water has subsided. The bamboo lasts about 3 years and the bridge takes about a month to build.

southeastasia2023 — Little boys playing in the Nam Khan River.

southeastasia2023 — Local transport for getting about the city.

southeastasia2023 — In the late afternoon a young monk beats a drum in the Wat Pa Phai temple complex

southeastasia2023 — Huge bougainvillea outside a cafe on the main street.

southeastasia2023 — The main street cafes with communist flags.

southeastasia2023 — Display of earrings on the sidewalk.

southeastasia2023 — Virginia Ann outside a sidewalk cafe - where we will have a few beers.

southeastasia2023 — The setting sun on the Mekong River.

southeastasia2023 — Restaurant dining on the main street.

southeastasia2023 — The night market - we loved the night market. Good shopping and good photography.

southeastasia2023 — Elephants on a pop card display.

southeastasia2023 — Virginia Ann bargaining with a vendor on jewellery.

southeastasia2023 — Elephants - marching color.

southeastasia2023 — A popup ship in a sea of popup cards.

Previous Day Prev P

Next Day Next N

Top

Top

Cal and VA | Adventures | Southeast Asia

© Cal and Virginia Ann Holman All Rights Reserved 2000-2025

Modified last on Aug 17, 2025, 6:36:41?PM