Luang Prabang is a small town with lots of monk filled temples. Monks awake at dawn to collect alms from the local citizens. There is a set route where people set up their baskets containing food to give to the monks as they pass by. This is quite a tourist attraction and vans pour in to bring visitors down to the square to watch the processional. We were staying in walking distance, so we headed out at 5:30 to stake out our spots. The monks start arriving predawn in groups starting around 6:00 a.m and concluding around 7:00 a.m. We would have several opportunities to watch the parade of monks during our stay.
After breakfast we had the opportunity to visit a library that has been established by an American teacher. This is more than a library however. Carol is helping fill in the deficiencies of their education system for the local children. English lessons are given as well as teaching critical and creative thinking skills. A photography program as been established by her to help with the creative side with students being given cameras that have been donated to the facility. Our group had brought all sorts of gear to add to her collection. Carol is really giving back to the community in a big way.
Our classroom in Luang Prabang would be at a weaving center established to help teach weaving to the locals and also serve as a sales outlet for their goods. A very good restaurant was onsite where we enjoyed lunch while preparing for our class. The center has gone out to villages to teach weaving to allow the women to earn some income since most of the people live on what crops they can raise for both their own consumption and also for selling to restaurants in town.
Later in the afternoon, we visited a temple to watch the monks chanting prayers. Chant books guide them in their prayers. It was fun seeing the monks kid side, with iPhones coming out occasionally during the chants to check their texts. They may be monks but they are also kids.
We were on our own for dinner and a group of us dined right up the street from our lodging. We had yet another fine meal before turning in for the evening.
Tomorrow: Cruising on the Mekong
After breakfast we had the opportunity to visit a library that has been established by an American teacher. This is more than a library however. Carol is helping fill in the deficiencies of their education system for the local children. English lessons are given as well as teaching critical and creative thinking skills. A photography program as been established by her to help with the creative side with students being given cameras that have been donated to the facility. Our group had brought all sorts of gear to add to her collection. Carol is really giving back to the community in a big way.
Our classroom in Luang Prabang would be at a weaving center established to help teach weaving to the locals and also serve as a sales outlet for their goods. A very good restaurant was onsite where we enjoyed lunch while preparing for our class. The center has gone out to villages to teach weaving to allow the women to earn some income since most of the people live on what crops they can raise for both their own consumption and also for selling to restaurants in town.
Later in the afternoon, we visited a temple to watch the monks chanting prayers. Chant books guide them in their prayers. It was fun seeing the monks kid side, with iPhones coming out occasionally during the chants to check their texts. They may be monks but they are also kids.
We were on our own for dinner and a group of us dined right up the street from our lodging. We had yet another fine meal before turning in for the evening.
Tomorrow: Cruising on the Mekong
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