Chris > We began our journey to Laos in the old royal city of Luang Prabang. Our Vietnam Airlines commuter jet touched down at Luang Prabang’s sleepy airport and we then hopped into one of the local songtails (converted pickup trucks). On one side the Nam Khan river swirls between steep banks and on the other the Mekong rolls, flat and still and brown. The girls who cycled past us were holding umbrellas to block the sun along our drive into town.
Laos has one of the lowest population densities in Asia (about 11 per sq mile). This 'second city' is a tiny, magical place. The temple-monasteries, or wats, rise behind the porched houses that line the streets now considered a UNESCO world heritage site. I have never been immediately drawn so strongly to a country this beautiful before.
After marching around to find a decent hotel for $10, we sat at a table overlooking the Mekong to take in the glorious mountains, sunset and taste our first Beer Lao. I had heard of this legendary lager before. Beer Lao is made with rice in addition to malt. This, gives the pilsner beer a flavor that is both light and crisp. It's considered sort of a funky, travelers' beer that is a rare hit by backpackers and beer snobs alike.
As the sun goes down on this sleepy town I think this is going to be a magical visit.
No comments:
Post a Comment