The waiter who looked after us during the Amantaka cooking course we did on the organic farm in the Luang Prabang countryside was brilliant. His service was impeccable. He was so good at his job that when we asked him what his future plans were, whether he had a dream, we expected he would say … Read more
Exploring Phousi Hill, also known as Phou Si or Mount Phousi, is one of those must-do activities that travellers to Luang Prabang do, as much for the sweeping vistas of the sleepy town, the Mekong River and Khan River, and the surrounding mountains, as for the hidden temples, shrines, stupas, and golden Buddhas that dot the lush 100 … Read more
Best Lao khao soi in Luang Prabang is to be found in a simple, squat, open-fronted timber and corrugated iron shed, with a handful of wooden tables inside. There’s no sign and nothing whatsoever to identify the dilapidated eatery as Luang Prabang’s best Lao khao soi place but trust us, it’s worth the trouble to … Read more
Ock Pop Tok weaving centre in Luang Prabang, Laos, is the product of a collaboration between Laotian weaver Veomanee Duangdala and English photographer Joanna Smith. Ock Pop Tok may mean ‘East meets West’ in Lao but the beautiful fabrics produced on the looms are distinctly local. Click clack. Click clack. I love the sound of a loom being worked … Read more
Touring the temples of Luang Prabang to marvel at the mural and mosaic covered pagodas is a must-do activity alongside the early morning alms giving. There are 33 glittering temples – known as both wats and vats in Laos – in the ancient Lao royal capital so we decided to start by focusing on a … Read more