Its here again and time for us to catch up on some life laundry. We decide not to get up early for Tak Bet this morning and have a lie in instead. We get up at 8.30am and after a shower take the 15 minute walk downtown to the Laundry on the banks of the Mekong and drop off a large bag. We’re leaving town tomorrow and this is our last opportunity to do Laundry until at least Boxing Day. Washing will be ready by 6 so hopefully we’ll remember to return later.
We walk back to our hotel for breakfast- Brownie has fruit and muesli and have 2 poached eggs, some bacon, a tomato, a large, pancake and a small delicious baguette. As I may have mentioned previously the bread in the Philippines really wasn’t up to much and neither was the butter so every opportunity to eat some good bread has to be taken. It’s a fab breakfast.
We need you organise some laundry – 6kgs worth – as if we don’t get it done today our next chance won’t be for over a week!! We locate the laundry and are assured that it will be ready by 6pm!
So we’re off up the Mekong tomorrow, and recently, the boat company has been posting on their Insta feed that they’ve been distributing socks to the local children as it’s winter and chilly. We spoke to them yesterday and asked what we should bring onto the boat as we will be visiting a village as part of our trips. Socks and books was the reply. Phosy Market was suggested as the location to purchase these items so that’s where we’re off to this morning.
Phosy Market, the largest in Luang Prabang, operates daily from 7am to 5pm and is located on the outskirts of town. It offers a wide array of products, including fresh produce, meats, clothing, electronics, household items, and local handicrafts. It’s a vibrant hub where locals shop for daily necessities and provides us with am authentic glimpse into Laotian culture and daily life.
40 pairs of socks, 20 exercise books, and 20 pens purchased we take a slow walk back into town. We stop for a drink on the banks of the Mekong and admire the view musing that we’ll be cruising on it tomorrow.
Purchases dropped off at our hotel we take a walk to a part of town not yet visited. The UXO (Unexploded Ordnance) Visitors Centre in Luang Prabang offers a sobering insight into the legacy of unexploded ordnance in Laos, the most heavily bombed country per capita in history. Laos was on average bombed every 8 minutes by the Americans for nine years, from 1964 to 1973, during the Vietnam war.
The centre features real-life bombies (cluster bombs) and bomb casings recovered from various parts of Luang Prabang province and surrounding areas. We learn about the ongoing efforts to clear these remnants and the impact on local communities across the country. We watch a series of films presenting survivor stories and a moving documentary, providing a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by the Laotian people due to unexploded ordnance and there subsequent rehabilitation.
Brilliant artwork by Paul Phothyzan, whose sculpted bomb cases provide a profound illustration of the impact of the Vietnam War to the people of Laos.
Its a moving visit and provides a stark reminder that even 50 years later the people of Laos are still effected by the repercussions of the Vietnam War.
We walk back to the centre of town to collect our laundry and Brownie’s waistcoat which she’s absolutely delighted with. We drop everything off at our hotel and wander off for delicious pizzas at a great Cuban Italian restaurant whilst watching the comings and goings of drunken Chinese tourists in the guest house across the road. We return to pack as in case you haven’t kept up with my scribblings, we’re on the move again tomorrow.
Leave a Reply