I wouldn't describe myself as an early bird, by any means.
But, after we got up before sunrise to offer our alms to the monks we went to the morning market.
There was an array of items for sale.
It is a popular retreat for locals and tourists.
The Kuang Si Falls has 3 tiers leading to a 50-meter drop into shallow pools, before flowing downstream.
It is a quiet oasis (although, it would be quieter if there weren't so many tourists.)
Surrounded by lush tropical jungle, the pools have cascades of up to 5 meters high.
We took the trails and walked from the village up to the top of Kuang Si Falls.
Situated in the north of Laos it is surrounded by mountains and on the sacred confluence of the Nam Khan River and the Mekong River.
Translated directly it is the "city of the Golden Buddha Phra Bang".
It has a French colonial past, which is evident in the town’s architecture and culture.
It is a religious centre with 33 gilded wats (temples).
It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its exceptional preservation of cultural, religious, and architectural heritage.
They say "rice is life". They eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner,
Our tour itinerary told us we would be rice farmers for a morning.
It seemed like a great idea at the time, until I realized I would be barefoot and knee-deep in mud.
You have no idea how much I do not like to be dirty and how much I do not like to have dirty hands and feet.
But there are times when "no choice" is a "good choice".
I now have an appreciation for the incredible amount of work that goes into a simple bowl of rice.
It’s a silent and sacred ceremony – one that is steeped in tradition.
Every morning the monks wake up at 3.30am and head to the temple house to pray for an hour .
They then walk into town with their alms bowls to collect rations for the day.
The monks collect alms as a way to keep their vows, while the locals give alms in order to gain merit for the afterlife – it is considered the first step on the road to Nirvana.
