Angkor Wat, Bayon, Preah Kahn et al.

Pedro climbs the steep steps at Angkor Wat...


Workers sweep out the day's rainwater from Angkor Wat


Pre Rup


Enigmatic faces of Bayon






One of Angkor Thom's main gates


Near the Terrace of the Elephant King


Preah Khan, once a significant temple complex for 100,000 officials and servants

Southern Laos

Along a road near Champasak


Crossing the Mekong River


Outside of Champasak, I rented a bike and cruised a few kilomters to Wat Phou, ancient temple of the Khmer empire from the 10th and 11th centuries though it has been a temple site since at least the 5th century...


"Buddha's footprint" + elephant




At Wat Phou




Kid cutting up an ox head along the road in Champasak


Pakse


Calf in front of my bungalow on Don Det, part of the 4,000 Islands area of Southern Laos


Crazy dude on island of Don Khong

Buddhism in Luang Prabang

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...

Food in Luang Prabang

Green Papaya Salad. See this article for the difference between the Thai Som Tam and the Lao version...


Strange-textured veggie condiments for the above salad


Pork thingy steamed in banana leaf


Bananas and bamboo shoots


River eels


Hot peppers in the market


Rice in the market




Lao-style BBQ with some friendly Europeans. Over hot coals in the middle of the table, you cook the meat on top of this pan and mix with broth, veggies, noodles, spices and eggs that are cooked in the side of the pan.

In Luang Prabang, Laos

Kaleidoscope of tree along the Mekong River


David playing in the mud




Before 1975, Luang Prabang was the capital of the Kingdom of Laos. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is packed with beautiful Buddhist temples and monasteries. Discovering the $1 aromatic steam bath popular with locals next to my guest house was a highlight. And the $4 Lao traditional massages were fantastic too.


On bikes...




Tree along the Mekong


Popular Kuang Si Waterfall destination outside town