Super Soaking Luang Prabang

We headed towards Luang Prabang on a slow boat down the Mekong River, arriving after two days of relaxing, reading, and watching the scenery pass by. The views weren't as grand as we expected, given the popularity of this boat trip, but regardless the ride was a nice way to get from a to b. We shared the ride with Adrian and Sabrina whom we had met on the Gibbon Experience and were able to play a few more games of our new favorite card game: wizard.



We were excited to return to Luang Prabang, having been impressed with it for a whole two hours our first time through. We checked a few places to stay, all of which were extremely overpriced for the New Years celebration, and decided to splurge rather than be ripped off. Our room at the Sayo Naga was divine and a happy home for three nights.

Lindsey was enchanted by the town's architecture and we enjoyed walking and biking around the small town.



Our first morning there, Steve woke up early to watch the monks collect alms. The monks, only allowed to eat twice each day, depend on donations of food each morning, mostly consisting of sticky rice. This morning it happened to be a bit rainy, but was still a great sight to see their robes in the dim light.



We toured the obligatory temple, Wat Xieng Thong and were satisfied without seeing the city's other 100 wats.



But aside from these sights, we really came to Luang Prabang to celebrate Pi Mai, the Lao New Year. This three-day festival celebrates the passing of the old Songkan spirit and the arrival of the new spirit. It also marks the end of the hot season and the arrival of the monsoon season. On different days they wash their houses, their buddhas, but on all days they delight in dousing each other with buckets of water.

We quickly realized that we weren't exempt as a simple trip around the block would leave you dripping wet whether you happened to have been walking, biking, or riding in a tuk-tuk. Already drenched, we bought massive water guns (Lindsey's had a backpack of water) and fought back.



We rode around town, shooting back at road-side groups of people who hurled buckets of water at us. In certain places, we stopped to join small parties with music, food, and of course, water fights. The waterproof case on the camera certainly came in use.



This kid really enjoyed drenching us:




We also pickued up the ability to claim something few can: "I once got in a water fight with a group of monks." These guys, who live a pretty strict life, seemed especially delighted to be joining in.



Locals everywhere were incredibly inclusive and wanted the foreigners to enjoy it. It did get frustrating at times when you just wanted to get to a restaurant and still be dry, but all in all it's a great holiday.

One thing that did amuse/frighten us were the realistic water guns that children carried. It's just a bit odd getting shot with water by a kid weilding an AK-47 rather than one with a super-soaker.



The rest of our time in Luang Prabang, we ate some great food (Joma, Saffron, Paradise, and a street-burger) and enjoyed the night and day markets. There are lots of pictures in the albums of the things they sell in markets, or favorite of which is random plastic stuff by the pound. Lindsey picked up a new bag and a Lao beer t-shirt, while Steve bough a woven soccer ball for our upcoming beach time.



While we left Luang Prabang before everything really finished up, we we're ready to be dry again. Next stop: Vang Vieng, Laos for tubing, rafting, and some beautiful views.

Finally, for those of you concerned, we're keeping and eye on the events in Bangkok and trying to figure out how we are getting to the Thai islands. Not to worry.