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On Day 4 of our Laos adventure, we explored Luang Prabang's wonders. This city, initially underestimated, became my trip's highlight, especially the profound alms-giving ceremony.
It's Day 4 of our Laos adventure!
And just like every day, we were up at the crack of dawn, ready to go...
Not a single day has been chill, haha!
At 5 AM, I was up, quickly washed my face, and pulled my hat down low,
heading out to experience the incredible Tak Bat ceremony.
Tak Bat is a beautiful Buddhist tradition where monks walk in a silent procession each morning,
receiving alms from the community. It's said that they then share these offerings with others in need – a true cycle of giving.
So, bright and early, we set out and bought some sticky rice to participate in the alms giving.
We ended up buying from the very first person who approached us,
and I think we might have paid a bit too much (oops!).
You'll find it right in front of Joma Bakery! The ceremony usually takes place between 5:30 AM and 6:00 AM, so
grab your sticky rice, find a spot on one of the little stools, and patiently wait for the monks to arrive.
Next to us were this wonderfully chatty couple from Canada – a real 'busybody' pair, haha!
Funnily enough, they barely spoke to each other, but they were busy chatting up everyone else around them!
So friendly, haha.
But it was a blessing, as they were Tak Bat veterans and kindly showed us the ropes,
and thanks to them, we completed the ceremony smoothly! ^___^
With our sticky rice all given, and the serene alms procession concluded,
we rose from our stools and took a short stroll.
As we wandered, we stumbled upon Luang Prabang's bustling morning market.
It wasn't just fresh produce; we found so many fascinating and unique things there!
On our way back to the guesthouse~
Back at our guesthouse, while we waited for breakfast,
I snapped this photo from the terrace right outside our room – isn't it just stunning?~~
Sure, watching the sunrise can be tough until you actually see it,
but once you do, it's absolutely amazing!
At Ratanakorn, breakfast is super convenient!
You just choose your breakfast menu for the day at the front desk, then head back to your room.
They'll set up your meal on a table right outside your door and give a knock!
So incredibly easy!
For breakfast, we picked pho and a sandwich.
Ratanakorn's breakfast was
clean and pretty delicious!
Just like during my Da Nang trip, sometimes the hotel breakfast is even better than going to famous restaurants!
After breakfast, we booked a van from Ratanakorn to Kuang Si Falls.
The minivan fare to Kuang Si Falls was 40,000 kip per person,
and it was scheduled to depart at 9 AM and return by 1 PM.
Upon arriving at Kuang Si Falls, after paying the 20,000 kip entrance fee,
you first come across a bear sanctuary.
Real bears were living here, safely protected.
After a short walk, we came across the turquoise lagoons!
The water color was absolutely stunning.
It was so much bluer than the Kuang Si Falls I'd seen in pictures during the rainy season.
As we walked further up,
we saw three more new lagoons.
This was my absolute favorite spot!
It looked like a painting, or maybe a perfect photograph.
In other words, it didn't feel real at all~~
This waterfall appears at the very end,
and while it's gorgeous and magnificent in photos, it's even more breathtaking in person!
On the bridge in front of it,
lots of people were crowded, trying to take pictures.
I squeezed my way in, snapped a photo, and then headed back down.
We went back down to the second lagoon we'd passed
to swim and play in the water.
Maybe it was the only spot where swimming was allowed, or perhaps it was just the best place to swim,
but everyone was gathered at the second lagoon.
There was also a tree to dive from,
so everyone was enthusiastically diving in again today!
It seems the most common sight on my Laos trip has been people diving, lol.
As for me... I put on my snorkeling mask in the water, all by myself,
and played around, getting a lot of attention from the foreigners, lololol.
After playing for a while, when the agreed-upon time arrived,
we took the van back and returned to the accommodation.
After visiting Kuang Si Falls,
my body felt even worse — chills... dizziness, and my diarrhea flared up again, but
I couldn't give up on Joma Bakery......
I bought some bread and coffee from Joma Bakery and ate it with yukgaejang instant noodles
together.
The coffee was strong and delicious, and while I wouldn't say the bread was incredibly amazing,
the coconut bread seemed worth trying.
After dinner, despite feeling a bit under the weather,
I set my sights on Mount Phousi, renowned for its spectacular sunsets!
My body looked a bit heavy, I must admit...
...and honestly, seeing it again, I can't help but feel a little sorry for myself.
The path to Mount Phousi's summit isn't particularly long
and not even a difficult one, but with my head spinning, I felt like I was fighting for every breath until I finally, triumphantly, reached the summit of Mount Phousi!
If I'd been feeling 100%, I probably would've zipped up in about 10 minutes.
The iconic photo spot at the summit of Mount Phousi, of course! 😉
Everyone lines up here, eager to capture their moment.
A quick note to fellow explorers: you might find the queueing etiquette here, particularly among some Chinese visitors, to be a bit... spontaneous.
While you might be somewhat accustomed to this by now, it often feels like the concept of 'orderly queues' isn't always a priority for everyone.
Sometimes, you just feel like gently nudging them off the mountain, right? 😉
The weather wasn't on our side, so we didn't get that postcard-perfect sunset,
but we still managed to snap a few photos before heading back down.
Halfway down, we spotted a juice stall and decided to take a refreshing break.
We each grabbed a fresh coconut to quench our thirst.
Hmm,
It wasn't particularly cold, and the taste was honestly just... okay.
By the time we made it all the way down, the sky was already dimming.
And guess where we headed again? The vibrant night market!!
On this trip, I hadn't really found much I *needed* to buy, and let's be honest, the budget was a bit tight,
so apart from a few essential magnets (of course!), shopping hadn't really been on my agenda.
But then I looked back at photos from the past few days and realized I'd been living in the same comfy, somewhat unstylish utility pants.
Taking pity on my travel wardrobe, I decided to treat myself to a wrap skirt and immediately put it on.
I'll definitely be rocking this in Vientiane~~!!
For dinner, we ventured into what I'd call a 'foodie alley' (if that's the right term! 😉) located right at the entrance of the night market, near Joma Bakery.
A fellow Korean traveler I'd met during the morning alms giving ceremony had highly recommended the grilled fish here, saying it was absolutely delicious~~
Joining forces with two other Korean friends, the four of us decided to go all out!
We ordered freshly caught Mekong River fish, savory pork belly, and delicious roast duck.
Unfortunately, my stomach wasn't quite up to the challenge due to a little traveler's trouble (diarrhea...)....
so I mostly just picked at the fish, which, I must say, was absolutely perfect as a snack with drinks!
Everyone else, bless their happy stomachs, polished off their plates, raving about how delicious everything was! 😄
The alms giving ceremony takes place in front of Joma Bakery between 5:30 AM and 6:00 AM. To participate, you need to purchase sticky rice in advance.
The mini-van fare from Rathanakone to Kuang Si Falls is 40,000 LAK per person. It operates on a schedule departing at 9:00 AM and returning at 1:00 PM.
The entrance fee for Kuang Si Falls is 20,000 LAK. Among several lagoons, people gather at the second lagoon to swim and enjoy diving.
Joma Bakery's coffee was mentioned as rich and delicious, and among the breads, the coconut bun was said to be worth trying.
If one's physical condition was normal, it is estimated to take about 10 minutes to reach the summit of Mount Phousi. There is a photo spot at the top.
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