While we were in Luang Prabang we decided to get up early 5:45am so that we could witness the giving of alms to the monks. There are hundreds of monks in Luang Prabang and everymorning they walk down the main street and locals (as well as tourists now) give them food. Sticky rice mostly, and they use this food for their 2 meals of the day. The first at 7am and the last at 11am.
At around 6:30am the monks start walking past and all you see is this ocean of orange. I felt strange taking pictures at all as there were some very obnoxious tourists that were standing right in front of them snapping photos with flash right in their face. It seemed wrong somehow, so I stayed back and with the help of my little zoom managed to get a few shots.
The town is filled with wats and the monks are very eager to practice their english with you. I spoke to one 22 year old who has been at this monastary for 7 years. And he was with another boy who was just 17 and had only been there for 6-7 months. While I was talking to them I witnessed something that I thought was quite poignant.
A mosquito landed on the younger boy and the boy raised his hand as if to kill it. The older boy saw this, gently grabbed the young boys hand with his one hand and with his other hand he just gently brushed the mosquito off the boys arm. Hmmm...it was quite beautiful.
2 comments:
Hello, YOu don't know me but I'm a friend of Jodi Brook's and Kim Latreille (used to work for Toronto Life). I'm in Laos now and will be heading to Phonsavan tonight to the plain of Jars and then Vietnam. Would be lovely to meet up if our paths cross.
Gina
Hey Gina...I just left Laos...in Thailand now. Will be in SE Asia for another 3 months...so let me know where you are and perhaps we can hook up.
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