Friday, Feb 29, 2008

Luang Prabang is really quite an amazing place. Very quiet, surrounded by two rivers and nestled in the mountains of Northern Laos. The past two have been spent just hanging out and visiting the markets, testing the foods and exporing the areas surrounding the city center.
The weather has been cold and miserable. We took a tuk-tuk to a local waterfall which was beautiful.

Joe fell in the water and may have ruined his camera but the card is alright and the pictures are saved. As for the camera, I may never know its fate. I leave the crew tomorrow, and I'm sad about it.

But on the topic of leaving.. as we were leaving the waterfall the sun popped out and afforded us a great sunset from atop of the central Wat in town.

[Let me digress for a moment] There were many Wats around Luang Prabang and we ended up visiting quite a few of them, each still in use. The discipline it requires to be a monk: to live in a temple (for any amount of time), and to be so reverant is actually very admirable, almost frighteningly uncomforatble--but enticing at the same time. Being in Laos has really made me think differently, about many different things. I like it.

The sunset was beautiful. It set between the mountain tops. It set slowly and underneath clumped clouds which gave a great contrast of purple to orange. The cameras of a million tourists were clicking away the last remnant of the sun before it set behind the mountains as I just watched and knew I'd never forget this place.

My flight leaves tomorrow at 1645 and I'm not ready to leave. I think it's because I'm leaving without Laos. So at some point I need to come back and get it.