Luang Probang: Big ears and long trunks

Yesterday was a day of leisure.  Started with watching the monks accept alms of sticky rice, then yoga on the Nam Khan River.  I kept up with the 30 plus young students, but feel the burn today in my arms.  I better keep it up in prep for my upcoming yoga camp in Cambodia. Then Wat hopping, café, and a nice long massage.  Oh ya.

Today wetook a tour to the MandaloLao Elephant Conservation and was not disappointed.  It is a non-riding experience in which we could feed the elephants, then trek through the woods with them. It was fascinating to learn about their habits and needs, and to get up close to touch them.  The conservation is focused on education and promotes the humane treatment of these beautiful animals throughout Laos.  They take in abused or damaged elephants and train them to go back into the wild.  The elephants followed us as we meandered through the woods and a couple of streams.  Hopefully sanctuaries like this will save these beautiful animals, which have dwindled down to about a 1000 in Laos.

The guide was quite interesting and was very open about the changes in Luang Prabang.  He was complaining about the Vietnamese buying many of the local hotels and providing much of the tourist transport services, leaving the locals with much less business.  Locals are starting to leave the city and even the monks are left with less local support of alms. I asked the guide what would happen if there were no more alms for the monks – he said “they’d have to cook their own food”.  Hmmm.   Another huge and looming change is the fast train rail that is being built by China.  The train will be complete in 2021 and the route will be from China to Vientiane, Laos.  They expect a surge in Chinese tourism and large resort-style casinos.  

https://laotiantimes.com/2018/02/28/updates-from-the-laos-china-railway-project/

I’m conflicted with tourism in general and do feel guilty that I contribute to the problem of over tourism in the world and its negative environmental impact. Still trying to find the balance and a way to do my part.

Paul’s little friend Tu

This is Tu.  Almost three and a spitfire.  She is the hotel manager’s daughter.  Riding her bike complete with a basket of sticky rice

Had a nice conversation with Suli.  Been a monk for three years

Giving rice for alms every morning 6 am.  She gets up at 4am everyday to cook rice

Bamboo bridge

Contemplating a tree?? 

Yoga on the river