I finally meet up with Dad on my travel since the start of the journey. He did join me at the very beginning at Hat Yai when I first crossed the border into Thailand but after that for the next 4 months there was no way to meet up. Or rather I was so much at the countryside that there was no budget direct flight that I could fly him in. Mom was a lost cause as always since trying to get her anywhere was a slim chance and now even more so since lil niece needed her grandma for babysitting.
As per my previous post, “When your atm card expires during travels”,while the expired ATM card triggered and made the decision easier, Luang Prabang was always on the list to fly my parent up for a short meet up. It make sense since it was not too far with a connecting flight through BKK and it was one of those chill place where I could hang out with them sightseeing architecture wonder. I knew Luang Prabang was a UNESCO heritage city as well, so all things should be easy for travel. I only managed to fly Dad in, but it was a good relaxing week.
I got in one day in advance of course and stayed at a hostel and then check out to go to a guest house and picked Dad up at the airport. I now have my new ATM card so I am good to go for as long as I need and the one week at Luang Prabang with Dad was spent just eating, chatting, walking around and doing some day trip tours such as the boat ride on the Mekong River and a visit to Kuang Si Waterfall.
Mekong River Tour to Pak Au Caves was a nice long 2 hours slow-boat up river visiting a small village which sells homemade lao lao whishky and homemade weaving textile scarfs and going further on to visit a cave with thousands of Buddha statue inside a cave. The short flights of steps going up to the caves saw Dad fighting with his knees to go up every steps beyond the first twenty. Heck I am not fit myself but I always thought that given enaugh time, travelling is never a problem.
Still, the same way I give up certain strain type activity, Dad now is even more limited on the types of travel. Espescially when the top of the hike and the visit of the caves were a disappointment. The guides will tell you tales of a thousand Buddha and the festivals and rituals performed but being there, all one could see is lots of Buddha statue mostly cracked and moldy that it seams like a cheap souvinear to leave a Buddha at the caves. Tales of grandure spun by the tour guides may captivate the ears but being there and seeing the caves seams like just any other ordinary caves in South East Asia.
With the caves experience, Dad was reluctant to go for the Kuang Si waterfall daytrip thinking that hiking was required to get to the waterfall.. I heard there is a bear at the waterfall outside before the entry to the hike. Animal zoo. Lets go see the bear at least I told Dad.
Have you seen a moon bear before ??
Persuaded by my Bear sales we got on another daytrip to Kuang Si Waterfall. The tiers and many levels of pools was an easy walk gently on slopes going uphill but with large enaugh space and a hoard of tourist. It was one of the most beautiful waterfall I have ever seen in South East Asia and Dad agreed that this trip was more worth it than visiting the Caves.
Along the way to the waterfall we saw the sancturary for the Moon Bear and took our time just sitting and observing these grand creature that look more cute than dangerous inside the large playground. I bought my lil niece one ugly black Moon Teddy Bear and passed to dad to bring it back to her for CNY. Supprisingly the feedback was she liked it.
Age is starting to catch up with Dad now and i could really see it not just in the looks but in the physical fact that travelling for him will be very selective in the future. No more long treks or hike up steep hills. The lazy old man traveler will have to be the way and that limits even more the places which I could bring him around.
Traveled on: Jan 2019
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| Me & Dad at Kuang Si Waterfall |
As per my previous post, “When your atm card expires during travels”,while the expired ATM card triggered and made the decision easier, Luang Prabang was always on the list to fly my parent up for a short meet up. It make sense since it was not too far with a connecting flight through BKK and it was one of those chill place where I could hang out with them sightseeing architecture wonder. I knew Luang Prabang was a UNESCO heritage city as well, so all things should be easy for travel. I only managed to fly Dad in, but it was a good relaxing week.
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| Best thing to do in Luang Prabang. Just chill by the Mekong river looking at sunsets |
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| The favorite breakfast place like a local. |
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| Sightseeing the UNESCO heritage temples at Luang Prabang |
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| Morning Alms tradition ... never did manage to wake up so early to see it. |
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| Boat ride on the Mekong River |
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| Lao Lao Homemade Whisky Factory |
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| The Lao Lao way to make Lao Lao whisky |
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| Pak Au Caves |
Have you seen a moon bear before ??
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| Moon Bear Sanctuary at Luang Prabang |
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| Moon Bear Sanctuary at Luang Prabang |
Along the way to the waterfall we saw the sancturary for the Moon Bear and took our time just sitting and observing these grand creature that look more cute than dangerous inside the large playground. I bought my lil niece one ugly black Moon Teddy Bear and passed to dad to bring it back to her for CNY. Supprisingly the feedback was she liked it.
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| Kuang Si Waterfall - Luang Prabang |
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| Kuang Si Waterfall - Luang Prabang |
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| Kuang Si Waterfall - Luang Prabang |
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| Kuang Si Waterfall - Luang Prabang |
Traveled on: Jan 2019
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