The Streets of Luang Prabang

It's time to start wrapping up my posts about my visit to Luang Prabang, Laos. Here, I'll share some photos that didn't really fit in with any other blog post, but which I thought really showed some of the charm of the sleepy city on the Mekong River. There's something special about Luang Prabang, something that made me want to stay long after I had seen everything that there was to see.

Perhaps it was the mix of historic buildings and French colonial charm that could be seen in every corner of the city, interspersed between ancient Buddhist temples, pagodas, and palaces.

Maybe it was the laid-back atmosphere - people spend their mornings at a cafe with a copy of the Vientiane Times sipping an iced cafe Lao and looking out over the slow-moving river.

Whatever it was, Luang Prabang has a certain draw. The city is magical, there's no denying that. It's a small city, quiet, peaceful. I could spend hours walking up and down along the river.

On one of our last days in town, we visited the Silk Road Cafe at Ock Pop Tok, an initiative that encourages traditional Laotian silk and handicrafts.

Here, you can buy beautiful Lao silks handmade by local people, and the proceeds go to help support both traditional crafts and the local community. Everything in Luang Prabang is colorful, from the glittering golden temples to the hill tribe textile shops. The entire city exudes charm, and I can't wait to go back as soon as I can.

Maybe, if I'm lucky, I'll be able to visit during Pimai, the traditional Laotian New Year, which is in April every year. We'll see!