Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Asia
Reload this Page >

spygirl.........

Search

spygirl.........

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 28th, 2004, 05:57 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 866
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
spygirl.........

can you suggest a few things to do in LP? thank you!
bodhijack is offline  
Old Jul 28th, 2004, 11:01 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I dont see any but swim in the hotel swimming pool.
Dont hesitate. Go to see the Glory of Angkor.
cytrav2000 is offline  
Old Jul 29th, 2004, 07:06 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well. I'm not spygirl and since she and I tend to disagree on most things (;-> you may want to take my recommendations with that in mind.

There are probably 20 working wats in LP. Wander through town, stopping at the wats, chat with the novices (who all want to work on their English). Stroll through town, including the residential areas. Check out the markets. One market is specifically for the Hmong to sell their wares. The old palace is now a museum, and has a bizarre assortment of things (moon rocks, anyone?). Climb up Phousi. Take a boat to the Pak Ou caves. Enjoy half a day on the river (don't bother to stop at the LaoLao village). Go to the silk weaving village outside LP and buy from the women at the Co-op or walk into the village and buy from women there. There are two sets of waterfalls ouotdside of town that are worth visiting. Have a two hour lunch on the balcony of the Villa Sante. Sit by the river. Slow down and experience the pace of Luang Prabang.

You may want to read "In Search of the Elephant Kings" before you go. I felt like I knew people in town after reading it!
Kathie is offline  
Old Jul 29th, 2004, 01:13 PM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 866
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
great answer, kathie! thank you! i'll bet spygirl will agree with you on this one!
bodhijack is offline  
Old Aug 1st, 2004, 10:42 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bodhi, Bodhi, Bodhi-I go away from this board for a bit I see you've been busy, asking all sorts of questions-and calling my name! Apparently you're thinking of "blowing off" LP? I'd really advise not doing that-if you're going to Myanmar-why not do LP for 2 or 3 days as well-there at the Golden Triangle-where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet-you're so close, I'd give some serious thought to doing both. Really, you'd be missing a very special place-a place that is still off the well-worn tourist path. As for things to do in LP-well, Shock! I DO agree with Kathie on her suggestions- (I just hope Lyndie will jump in and offer her two cents as well!) Now, for my part, I'll add my take on Luang Prabang:

Wat a place! Luang Prabang is of course full of beautiful wats-and as pointed out, these are working temples-so you'll be able to observe the monks as they go about their ritual duties-(if you get up early, you'll see the Laotians making merit to the Buddha by providing food and other essentials to the monks) LP is the spirtual center of Lao Buddhism, and the juxtaposition of French colonial architecture with traditional Laotian buildings makes for a striking contrast of East-West architecture. I believe there are something like 30 wats in LP, however Wat Mai, in partic. is stunningly ornate-partic. when the setting sun shines on the gold bas-relief on the walls depicting various Buddhist imagery-truly magnificent. There are interesting semi-erotic scenes on the wall from the Hindu epic the Ramayana, as well as imagery of Heaven and Hell- it was so lovely and peaceful here that I spent a chunk of time just absorbing the vibe. Also Wat Xiang Thong-one of the largest and most impressive of the wats located on the outskirts of LP, with a lovely garden-very serene. There are SO many beautiful wats here-it's hard to pick a few of the best-we visited a number of them in the 3 days we were there-and all of them had something interesting to differentiate them from the others.

As Tanganta mentioned, there is a night market (nothing can beat Chiang Mai's night market-but LP's wasn't half bad) you can find some beautiful and renowned Laotian textiles-if you're lucky, you'll find authentic antique ones-(however for antique textiles, you'll have better luck purchasing an authentic piece at a place called the Lao Antique Textiles Collection shop), silver jewelry, silks, and if you're careful, maybe a real antique hand-carved opium pipe.

In addition, there are funky little bars and cafes to try out- the Scandinavian bakery for pastries and breakfast, also inexpensive little cafes set up along the Mekong where you can relax, have a few BeerLaos (excellent!)and watch the sunset. As Kathy said, take a boat cruise to the Pak Ou caves-(the scenery along the Mekong is beautiful-the whole area around LP-the mountains and the river are lovely) the caves-considered holy by the Laotians -are a sort of spirtual graveyard for old Buddha statues-I found it interesting. And visit the multi-tiered Kuang Si Falls-there's a bridge that brings you very close to the falls themselves, and there are good little places to eat in and around the falls. There's also a little village just outside LP that makes a delicious home-made liqueur-we didn't go there, but heard about it from others.

As far as accomodation, you can go as cheap or as luxe as you like-we ate at the Villa Santi-and the food was excellent-loved the cress salad and other vegetable dishes the Villa Santi is furnished with lovely rosewood furniture and Laotian textile-and it's not that expensive-about US80/nt.-U believe, however, there are a number of places that are quite nice where the room rates are even less-like the Phousy Hotel.

Nightlife action? Well, there's not a lot going on, (more here than I imagine will be going on in Myanmar, however) but there are a number of pubs/bars -the Makidi bar was nice -and a few that play "farang" (foreigner) music-so you can roam around and check out the scene-it's fun.

I found L.P. to be a beautiful, spiritual place, and the people to be wonderfully kind and friendly. When one considers that Laos had more bombs dropped on it during the Vietnam war than the total number of bombs dropped during WWII, the loveliness and grace of the Laotians is all the more remarkable.
Spygirl is offline  
Old Aug 4th, 2004, 05:31 PM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 866
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
spygirl, again, thank you for a long thoughtful answer. LP is back in our plans! (and thanks to you also kathie). why havn't we heard from the 3rd voice yet?
bodhijack is offline  
Old Aug 18th, 2004, 02:51 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
topping for those interested in Luang Prabang.
Spygirl is offline  
Old Aug 18th, 2004, 03:14 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,638
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Okey, dokey! Well bodhijack I DO love LP. It's as spygirl says, a spiritual place with the nicest locals we've met in Asia (apart from Myanmar). There's Lun who works at Hoaxiang Guest House & Noi who is a waiter extraodinaire at Tam-Tam Bar, the monks in their glorious saffron coloured robes looking for food-the Phousi hill with the wat at the top-the climb too strenuous for me. The river with the locals washing their clothes, The fab carved silver elephant rings purchased from a master silversmith near the Sala Guest house, the lady-boys on motor bikes, the trip up to Nong Khai with Lun & Noi as guides (they'd never been before-we paid them anyway!) For me a destination is the people first and I wouldn't miss LP for all the tea in China! However, Angkor is something else & unforgettable. You must fit in both sometime! So many fabulous, evocative descriptions in these posts, from Kathie & spygirl. English is my second language!
Lyndie is offline  
Old Aug 18th, 2004, 06:47 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Lyndie! Are we adding fuel to the fire-if there's a choice, is it Luang Prabang over Angkor Wat?? (smile)
Spygirl is offline  
Old Aug 18th, 2004, 09:41 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,638
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
spygirl-I'd still choose Angkor-for the majesty, the dream, the absolute wonder of the place. Bodhi asks about LP so what can I do but add my FIVE cents worth. It's all in the eye of the beholder-we all know it! You're such a stirrer!
Lyndie is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Gpanda
Asia
5
Oct 22nd, 2007 05:05 PM
sharon815
Asia
4
Jul 17th, 2005 12:48 AM
cochin321
Asia
8
May 11th, 2004 05:57 PM
____
Asia
11
Nov 3rd, 2003 05:46 PM
nan_49
Asia
5
Nov 3rd, 2003 12:04 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Your Privacy Choices -