This is such a serene town, dominated by multiple Buddhist Wats, or temples, and colonial buildings in what was Lao’s former Royal capital and rightly now has UNESCO World Heritage status. All is within easy walking distance from our peaceful Villa Chitdara.

Unlike most other religions, becoming a Buddhist monk can be a brief experience, and a family earns merit once one of their sons takes up the saffron robe and bowl. Traditionally this is for 3 months during which they will undergo political indoctrination as well as monastic training. Some men will devote their lives to the Wat, while there is no similar tradition for women.

Normally I am awoken by the dawn chorus of cockerels but at 04:10 today it was the temple drum calling the monks to alms. Daily before dawn the monks walk barefoot through the streets while pious locals place balls of sticky rice in their begging bowls. It is a very peaceful ceremony in which the monks demonstrate their vows of poverty and humility while the Lao people gain spititual merit from the act of respectful giving.

Today I witnessed the ceremony from a respectful distance and share it with you:

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Sadly the ceremony has become more of a tourist attraction, and Chinese tourists are increasingly dominating with their New Year on 28th January.

We are both more relaxed here than anywhere before and must be imfluenced by the peaceful Laos way of life. Jocelyne meditated with the monks this evening and will return tomorrow.

We enjoyed a visit to the Tat Kuang Si waterfalls which tumble into opal pools.

We have both maintained a vegetarian diet here, and have enjoyed a variety of veg, herbs and spices. A favourite today was pumpkin, coconut and ginger soup but yesterday Jocelyne broke with tradition and was tempted by baked camembert flambéd with calvados!

Laos coffee is smooth and strong with no bitterness, and even better when brewed in a percolator like my parents used to do.

Just 2 more days to enjoy the tranquility of Luang Prabang before we fly to Phnom Penh in Cambodia, which no doubt will be very different!