DAY 10 - LUANG PRABANG

Luang Prabang ("royal Buddha image") was listed in 1995 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, primarily for its 33 wats.  The old town is located on a peninsula at the sacred confluence of the Nam Khan (over which our hotel room looks - great for sundown Scrabble)

and Mekong rivers; luckily we're in the centre of the town, close to one of the major landmarks, Mount Phousi, a large steep hill (a climb of 500ft, up about 400 steps)  

via a shrine built into the rock, halfway up,  

  

where they put old ordnance to peaceful use

leading, at the summit of the hill, overlooking the town and surrounding countryside, to Wat Chomsi

affording a view over the city and both rivers, and a peek into some other sites.

The route down ends up opposite the Royal Palace, now the National Museum (of which a sneak view above), which we'll visit tomorrow

Meanwhile, some wandering around what is a slow-paced town given its popularity

and to a couple of other wats on the way home

 

to which we may return, the precarious-looking bamboo Bridge

and finally back to the view from our balcony...