Overview of Luang Prabang — Luang Prabang is a small city of 55,000 on the banks of the Mekong River. It appeared as a center for royal power in various kingdoms at various times over the last six centuries, and became the center of an independent kingdom in the 18th century. After World War II it vied with Vientiane as the capital and was the center for royalist activity as the communists were expanding their control over the countryside. When the communists seized power they located the capital permanently in Vientiane.

Luang Prabang sits mostly on a small peninsula surrounded by the Mekong River on one side and the Nam Kahn (Kahn River) on the other.

Waterfalls — Tat Kuang Si, in a nature park about a 45-minute drive from Luang Prabang, is a magical, multi-tiered waterfall that drops down into a series of emerald-green pools. In the dry season, the waterfall is at it’s puniest – but still a beautiful series of cascades. The hiking trails up to the head of the falls are precipitous and slick, with the path and steps occasionally under water that is funneling from above. The trip to the top, though, is worth every step. The pools at the bottom are great for swimming.

Bear Rescue — the robust poaching and illegal trade in bear bile for use in alternative medicine in Laos and China is threatening the Laotian bear population. The Kuang Si Nature Park hosts a rescue center for bears that are rescued on government raids against poachers. A newer and more spacious facility has now been built offsite and most of the rescued bears moved to that facility.

Lunch at conservation area — on the way back to Luang Prabang, we stop at a project supported by GAdventures to have a fabulous lunch at a very peaceful and beautiful place. Among other things, the project grows and plants teak trees.

Weaving — In the afternoon we drive back into town and slip down a narrow alley to Ock Pop Tok (“east meets west”) — a women-owned weaving social enterprise with 78 employees started by a Laotian and and Englishwoman with a mission to preserve and promote Laotian textiles and weaving skills — set on the banks of the Mekong river.

We hear about the intricacies of silk, producing natural dyes for yarn, and the various techniques for weaving; and we watch a few of the weavers execute both simple designs with shuttles and incredibly complex designs that require pulling individual threads through manually. We marvel at the craft involved. The results are gorgeous and we can’t resist buying a few pieces at the shop.

Night Market – Dinner is street food and a walk through the Luang Prabang night market. Set up at night on streets that are busy with traffic by day, the night market is a walk between endless stalls carrying much of the same merchandise — clothing, t-shirts, woven products (scarves, cloths, bags, coasters), aluminum products from spent shell casings (thanks, America), Lao coffees and teas and other food products. Much of it made in China, some of it certified as made in Luang Prabang. And street food of all kinds, including our personal favorite: small coconut pancakes.

More to come on Luang Prabang….