Day 23 - Luang Prabang to Vientiane

We went out at 5.30 am to take part in the daily giving of alms where food is given by the local people to the monks.   As tourists we could buy pots of rice for £1.  We had to sit on small chairs and were given a scarf and plastic glove.   We were told to put a small amount of rice into the bowls that the monks carried as they passed by.  Some others were giving fruit, biscuits or money.  This is how they get their daily food. Anything left over is given to the poorest families.  

 
Us giving alms to the Monks


We then visited the nearby temple of Wat Sene before going back to the hotel for breakfast and checkout.
 
Wat Sene

 
Vintage Citroen owned by a hotel.  1 of 2 remaining Citroens in Laos 
from the French Colonisation



After breakfast we were taken back to the town centre to climb the 300 steps to the top of Mount Phusi where there is a stupa created in 1804. Legend says that the mountain was moved from Sri Lanka by the Monkey King Hanuman. Usually the views from here are excellent and it us a good place to see the sunset over the Mekong but the air is still thick with smoke.

 
View from Mount Phusi

 
Temple at top of Mount Phusi



We were then taken up into the mountains to see the Kuangsi Waterfalls which were spectacular. There are so many of them. There were a lot of butterflies and other insects here.

 
At the Kuangsi Waterfalls

 
Kuangsi Waterfalls

 
Kuangsi Waterfalls

 
Kuangsi Waterfalls

 
The top waterfall.

 
Large Butterfly

 
Giant spider

 
Small butterfly

 
Small butterfly



Nearby there is a Bear Rescue Centre who look after Asian Black Bears who gave been rescued from poachers and collectors.

 
Asian Black Bear



Lunch was at a lovely setting by another waterfall a little further down. Again there were plenty if butterflies, a persistent kitten and a pair of what appeared to be yellow wagtails

 
Lunch setting with waterfall behind


 
Female wagtail

 
Male wagtail



We came back to the hotel for a couple of hours and had a swim and rest by the pool and then a walk around the grounds until we were taken to the station for our train to Vientaine which left at 18.20. 

 
Colourful little bird 

 
Large butterfly

 
Bright red dragonfly type insect


The railway in Laos was built by the Chinese and first opened in 2018. It was a spacious bullet style train and very comfortable but the check in was very much airport style. Paul even had his deodorant confiscated as it was flammable but mine got through OK.


 
Our train at Vientaine Station


Vientaine is very much the big city with lots of traffic and lots of modern buildings.  We were taken for dinner and then to the hotel for a one night stay.






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