Luang Prabang - Day 3
After a (late) breakfast we headed out to numerous villages - this time by some very bumpy roads. Again, each village is known for it's individual agrarian produce. Coriander, Ginger, Watercress, Green Onions, etc. Along the way we passed some of the slash/burn fields we might have seen on the flight in, where large plots of pineapple plantations and "mountain rice" were growing.
We also stopped at a couple of villages situated literally at the end of the road which are inhabited by the Hmong, who immigrated to Laos from Mongolia ages ago. These villages were most notable for their obvious lack of initiative. These villages were notably silent. Apparently the Hmong are better known (with obvious lack of Lao respect) for opium smoking and procreation. Children were running rampant, gleefully chasing ducks, goats and chickens for entertainment. Humbling to be sure. Being at the end of the "road" also got me charged up to come back and go trekking further afield to see what we might encounter. Alas, the time premium holds us back....for now!
On the way back to Luang Prabang, we diverted to a tiny weaving village to check in on some of the most elaborate silk work imaginable. We watched one woman finishing up one of her weavings and were quite taken with it. She was an apprentice and couldn't believe it when we asked if we could purchase her just-finished work right off the loom! I won't quote, but it was embarrassingly inexpensive. Gorgeous, intricate silk work which I cannot validly describe.
When we got back to town, Phoung met us again to take us for an introduction to a fascinating place right next to the L'Elephant restaurant, called OckPopTok. The gallery-cum-foundation was established six or so years ago by a bright young British expat and a local Lao weaving legend. The idea is that they are training locals from weaving villages to improve their techniques and market their products to the West. Very cool!
I made several hotel site inspections before we made our way back to the temple for another dose of the etherial chanting! We meandered through the night market for some shopping before dinner at the Villa Santi and then off to bed.
We also stopped at a couple of villages situated literally at the end of the road which are inhabited by the Hmong, who immigrated to Laos from Mongolia ages ago. These villages were most notable for their obvious lack of initiative. These villages were notably silent. Apparently the Hmong are better known (with obvious lack of Lao respect) for opium smoking and procreation. Children were running rampant, gleefully chasing ducks, goats and chickens for entertainment. Humbling to be sure. Being at the end of the "road" also got me charged up to come back and go trekking further afield to see what we might encounter. Alas, the time premium holds us back....for now!
On the way back to Luang Prabang, we diverted to a tiny weaving village to check in on some of the most elaborate silk work imaginable. We watched one woman finishing up one of her weavings and were quite taken with it. She was an apprentice and couldn't believe it when we asked if we could purchase her just-finished work right off the loom! I won't quote, but it was embarrassingly inexpensive. Gorgeous, intricate silk work which I cannot validly describe.
When we got back to town, Phoung met us again to take us for an introduction to a fascinating place right next to the L'Elephant restaurant, called OckPopTok. The gallery-cum-foundation was established six or so years ago by a bright young British expat and a local Lao weaving legend. The idea is that they are training locals from weaving villages to improve their techniques and market their products to the West. Very cool!
I made several hotel site inspections before we made our way back to the temple for another dose of the etherial chanting! We meandered through the night market for some shopping before dinner at the Villa Santi and then off to bed.
posted by ultimatetraveler at 8:16 PM
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