Luang Prabang 13/10/2019

In the morning I visited Wat Siphoutthabath, but found it closed up like normal and most of the lanterns locked up inside, then on to Wat Xiengthong - ວັດຊຽງທອງ, which is one of Luang Prabang's most significant temples . From there I went to Wat Pa Phai - วัดป่าไผ่, which although small is one of my favorites as is my next stop at Wat Xieng Mouane again.

After a break I walked the 2 km to the beautifully located Pha Badd Tai on the Mekong River. On my return I went into Wat Tat Luang just as the novices were drumming and clashing cymbals without an audience- but they seemed to be enjoying themselves. Wending my way along I cut up through Wat Mahathat, Wat Hua Xiang - ວັດຫົວຊຽງ and Wat Hosian Voravihane, which all appear to be part of the same complex but, while hard to distinguish, are actually separate monasteries. On my way to the river I called into Vat Phonxay, no photos, and was invited to attend a service but declined because I hoped to get some  sunset river shots.

I should have stayed,  just as I reached the cross river ferry ramp it started pouring, well torrential tropical downpour is a more apt description. I, along with other people who had also been caught, took shelter on the wide and long verandah of an office at the top of the ramp where I ran into a couple from Queensland, who had also been on the Shompoo cruise. We chatted for a while, hoping for the rain to let up- but it didn’t, after an hour or so I went bugger this, took out my trusty umbrella and headed off getting my shoes saturated after a few steps. I counted myself lucky, however, when I saw a young couple wheeling a suitcase while laden with a large backpack and trying to find their accommodation.

The worst thing about the rain was that it happened just after most of the temples had put out and started lighting their tissue paper lanterns. Lanterns, which hadn't been dashed under cover in time began  dissolving and turning to mush within seconds of being hit by the rain- negating, in some cases, months of work.