We stumbled across our first Laos almsgiving ceremony in Pak Beng. Sat having an early breakfast before boarding the slow boat as the monks came down the street. The lady from the restaurant gave them an offering and in return the monks chanted a blessing back. Roll on a week and Luang Prabang – a UNESCO World Heritage City that is famous for the ceremony. … Continue reading Almsgiving…
Our first day is the opportunity for us to get our bearings, tomorrow we take a minibus to Nong Khiaw. We haven’t gone crazy – leaving after a day – on our return we will spend another five days here. We start early, temperatures are set to reach the mid-thirties by this afternoon. Our first mission is Phousi Hill, and That Chomsi that sits astride … Continue reading Luang Prabang, literally perfect.
Our last full day in Chiang Rai, in fact our final day for now in Thailand, the Blue Temple – Wat Rong Suea Ten – is a must see. Before we head there we revisit a temple that we briefly looked at on the day we arrived, Wat Ming Muang, unusual as rather than being adorned with dragons and serpents, images of elephants are the … Continue reading Thai temples ticked off…
We start our day early, keen to get to the White Temple, or Wat Rong Khun to give it it’s correct title, before the masses. Walking to catch the bus we are bemused as a young lady is praying to a plucked chicken, that has been pierced with incense sticks, a restaurant owner hoping for a good day perhaps? Boarding a battered old coach at … Continue reading White Temple, Chiang Rai
Lampang, a well kept secret, a hidden gem. Think along the lines of the temples of Chiang Mai but almost having the place to yourself. The older part of the city is along the northern banks of the Wang River, the markets and bustle of the locals going about their business to the south. The pace of life in the old quarter is slow, the … Continue reading Lampang – who knew?
It may only be an hour’s fight from Bangkok but Chiang Mai is a million miles away in character. The neon lights have been swapped for golden stupas gleaming in the sun, here is the home of the temple, or wat. With around seventy-five wats within the confines of the city walls it feels like we have been in each and every one of them, … Continue reading Which wat’s what?
A mere 344 steps – and the hundred baht entry fee – are all that stands between us and panoramic views over the city of Bangkok from the top of the Golden Mount Temple. It is a climb that we have made once before, hopefully we pass our fitness test this time out. The start of our circular ascent is alongside some ponds and water … Continue reading Stairway to Heaven…
Oldest On the Bus 