It is our last day in Luang Prabang. We are reluctant to say farewell to this quiet and beautiful place.
The last few days have been fascinating. We crossed the Mehkong with five monks and hiked past remote forest monasteries to a quiet clearing where we studied meditation. We visited the Pak Ou caves, caves emerging from sheer cliffs and filled with thousands of Buddha images. We rode an elephant (which was terrifying and, at times, foul-smelling). We learned to cook Laotian food: chicken curry, steamed mushrooms and eggplant, lemongrass chicken, and a steamed rice paper stuffed with various goodness (Nahm Sao). We raided the nightmarket and honed expert bargaining tactics. We participated in the monks' alms procession three times. We learned fascinating new methods for brewing coffee. We visited a street market where folks buy tasty treats like bats, rodents, catfish heads, and massive cockroaches.
Beyond the activities we have just soaked it all in. Megan enjoyed spa time. I read books on cool patios. It has been truly wonderful.
Tomorrow the whirlwind resumes. We fly to Bangkok and reunite with Mark Everett and Lauren who have been in Chang Mai and on a Thai beach. Sunday we return to Dubai where we plan to go skiing and visit the tallest building on the planet. Then home to a certain little guy we miss a hell of a lot.
Once we sort through pictures and video we will be sure to post them. For now we are drinking cocktails on a patio before getting wine on another patio before eating dinner at the best spot on town. Not a bad send off.
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