Archives for May 2012

Ahem.I know I promised a little break from the temples… but I forgot about this one. And it’s one I really liked. I sort of decided that Wat Aham was our personal temple because we passed it so many times each day on our way to and from the main part of town.

Eventually we stopped in to have a look and I’m glad we did.

Compared to the other temples in town, the grounds of Wat Aham are nearly deserted. While everything is still cared for, it’s clear that this is not a tourist hot spot. And I liked that.

Just a quiet temple sitting on the corner.

xo, jill

“Zen by day, Groovy by night.”

I can’t remember if Utopia was in our guidebook or if we just found it by meandering. Regardless, you know a place is going to be good if it requires multiple “secret” pathways to find it.

Our first visit coincided with the zen atmosphere of the place. We walked towards the back and relaxed on a deck overlooking the gardens and Nam Khan. I could have stayed there forever.

We enjoyed our lunch so much that we returned for dinner later in the evening. By this point, the “groovy” had begun. The once peaceful lounge was now a hoppin’ bar scene. It’s not everyday you find a place that offers such radically different atmospheres, all in the same day!

In addition to being a nice place to hang out, the food is also delicious. You can check out their menu here. This is definitely the place to go if you’re sick of baguettes or typical tourist food. Mike was even offered free fish cakes the kitchen was testing.

I highly recommend Utopia if you find yourself looking for good food and a unique place to hangout while in Luang Prabang.

xo, jill

Mekong and Nam Khan.

Something special about Luang Prabang is that it sits at the confluence of two rivers, the Mekong and Nam Khan. Because of this, there is no shortage of river views. After visiting a few temples, Mike and I continued to meander through town with a focus on the water.

We stopped to rest at a cafe overlooking the Nam Khan and watched people going about their daily business.

Luang Prabang is such a peaceful town. And if it wasn’t so photogenic I’d be finished posting about it by now!

xo, jill

The Golden City Temple.

I didn’t experience much temple fatigue while in Laos… but I certainly am during the blogging process. I think this is the last one for awhile… and it also happens to be Luang Prabang’s most impressive temple.

Wat Xieng Thong was built in 1559-1560 but has undergone plenty of restoration work over the years. Until 1975 it received royal patronage and served as the coronation site for Laotian kings. The temple is impressive indeed, but that didn’t stop us from being distracted by this giant grasshopper at the entrance.