Good Morning Luang Prabang!

Morning starts .. 

Its 0755 hours in Luang Prabang, Laos. The school gate in front of my breakfast table opened at 0700 hours and so did my taste buds to the freshly brewed Lao Coffee. Just like any other town, children walk, bike or are dropped by their parents to school and like any other children they are half sleepy as they walk through the gate. But something is different about this school and there is something different about this town. A teacher walks out with a broom in her hand and sweeps the side walk, the children follow, not in a line as told but as they are used to. The Crepe seller entices some of them as the scent from the hot pan touched with butter fills the air. Motor bikes sometimes just one and sometimes 4 - 5 wait at the gate and the children get off. A child is in a hurry to go in, as his parent tries to make him wear a jacket to take care of the early morning chill. It will get warmer in Luang Prabang as the sun comes breaking the clouds. It will get warmer but it wont ever get busier than this. This is why I love this place.
The river flows adjacent and the temple gives out a chant but I do not have to be away from the main street to be at peace. How many touristy places in the world have this, I wonder.

The Children and the Crepe .. 

The Children .. The Teacher and the Broom!

Today is my last day here and I am counting hours, literally. I don't want to go. Although I know I will be back, i still don't want to leave. 

I witnessed the Alms giving to the monks this morning. Did not sleep very well, but I still feel fresh, very fresh. After giving the sticky rice in alms to the walking monks I got a little weary of it. It does feel a little touristy and just like a ritual with the many tourists clicking pictures before dawn and then multiplying it as the light gets better. I thought I would sit through the final lap of the monks, but I got up much before that. I walked on the side of the river and witnessed the other Luang Prabang as the Locals got with their morning chores. A man polished his knives, a lady laid out the tables in front of her guest house and got the cakes, foil wrapped from yesterday to the front. A child walked out with a toothbrush in his mouth and the gardening staff of a posh hotel swept the fallen leaves. I walked till the scent of coffee lured me to the table where I am at. 

The school I think has started .. The crepe seller will try and get some tourists now with his main business with the kids getting over and  I will get on with mine …