Luang Prabang is filled with old historical Buddhist temples and monasteries. Young boys come from all over the countryside to live at the monasteries and receive a free education. Every morning at dawn, the novice monks walk quickly through the streets in single file pausing to collect food from kneeling locals who put sticky rice and other food into their alms bowls.
The monks walk in line in order from oldest to youngest.
Evening chanting
Shortly after taking this photo, Vai, the novice monk on the far left asked me to help him teach his daily English class. After helping once, I returned several consecutive evenings to help Vai in his classroom teach English to younger novice monks. While in Luang Prabang, I also taught Italian in the afternoons to a local man who was trying to learn the language.
Two of the novice monks and English students. Most, like this one, carried cell phones in their little pocks on the front of their orange robes.
Although novice monks can smoke cigarettes, they are not permitted to play soccer. Perhaps this one is wishing that he was free to join in the game.
At Wat Xieng Thong, an elaborate and impressive temple from the 1500's...
Another temple
Wat Mahathat...
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