Tag Archives: Luang Prabang

A two hour ride upstream on the Mekong will bring you at the foot of Pak Ou cave set in limestone cliff, twenty five kilometers away from Luang Prabang. The ride to and fro will cost you around 100,000 kip (roughly $9/INR 900) and may keep you wondering if it is a bit too much you paid. But as soon as you take a seat the long wooden boats, your doubts will be put to rest. Over the next two hours, the boat driver will navigate the rapids on the giant Mekong, gently moving in the direction of the caves. You will pass by serene views of green countryside, b and petrol bunker on the way and then as the two hours will pass by you will see a white hollow in the face of a giant cliff approach. You have arrived, your boat driver will say and you already know it was worth the time and the money. The quiet ride on the Mekong had already put you in the ideal state of calm necessary before visit to a religious site that has been used for meditation as well. As you climb the flight of stairs you pay an entry fees of 20,ooo kip ( roughly $3/INR 180) and make your way to the lower level of caves. Over four thousand Buddhas have been placed in this cave over a period of hundred years. With each Buddha representing the faith of an individual, you feel a sense of spirituality pervading the cave. After a few moments you make you way up to the upper level caves, where a giant statue of Lao Buddha meets you on the entrance. You go inside and look up your flashlight because the upper cave is absolutely dark. You imagine the cave lit up …

Kuang si are the spectacular waterfalls about 30 kilometers from Luang Prabang. Jump into a tuk tuk for a shared ride at 35,000 kip or sign up for a minivan at 40,000 kip that your hotel can arrange for you or you could find one waiting along the Sisavangvong road. The falls are multi-tiered and their turquoise blue or sometimes emerald green pools are a sight to both behold and jump in. We decided to trek all the way up to the top of the falls in the true spirit of exploration. And we were rewarded with the breathtaking top view of the falls and multiple tiny lakes. The climb although not too long is not so straightforward either. It is both adventurous and a little daunting because many a times you will be guessing if you are heading the right way. We were often left guessing wondering if we were the only ones heading up but a lot of people make the effort to climb up the top. So if you find the company of others and the waterfall symphony missing for too long, you know you are going the wrong way. The hike up is slippery, through wild woods, underneath the green canopy and definitely not for everybody. To navigate your way across the water pool at the top stepping over the moss covered rocks to get to the other side needs caution. If you slip, there is nothing to hold you back except for a railing of bamboo. But to put your feet on the black stones smothered by the time and water gushing down brings a feeling of peace to your nerves as you are panicking with both thrill and horror. To walk down is more challenging. But each step is a wonderful surprise. We stepped down a …