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Luang Prabang is a beautiful town, and one of the highlights of our trip through the southeast Asian country of Laos. In fact, it was one of the highlights of all of our Asia travel! It has the best night market I’ve ever visited, full of high-quality products at low prices with an excellent array of food on offer. The town’s French-colonial architecture is also a drawcard, and its location on a river adds to its charm.

One of Luang Prabang’s major attractions is the monks. Every morning, lines of orange-clad Buddhist monks walk the streets of the town with their food bowls, asking for alms for the poor. Tourists crowd the streets to see the spectacle, and it really is worth seeing – a sight you won’t find in Western countries. Sadly though, many tourists seem to view the morning parade as a show for their benefit, and fail to respect local customs.

Anyone can see and even take part in the monks’ morning ritual, but acting in a culturally appropriate manner will ensure that the tradition continues as it has for hundreds of years.

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1. Dress appropriately

Laotian people don’t tend to wear shorts or sleeveless tops. To show respect for the monks, wear long trousers or a long skirt and a shirt with sleeves. Please don’t dress as if you’re going to the beach, even if that’s where you’re headed next.

2. Keep your distance

Leave the road free for the monks to pass and don’t block their way. Walk a bit further down the road, away from all the other tourists and you’ll have a clear view. Women shouldn’t touch the monks, as this is very disrespectful.

3. Get down

Many of the people handing out food will be sitting down. This is a sign of respect that you can emulate by making yourself lower than the person you want to show respect to. You can do this in temples too. If you walk past some seated monks, for example, stoop a little to make yourself shorter as a mark of respect.

4. Be clean

If you want to give food to the monks, that’s fine. It’s best to go with a local if possible, or ask at your hotel or hostel for advice about what to give. Some locals have started preparing food to sell to tourists to give to the monks. Whatever you do, make sure you wash your hands and keep them clean, as you will probably be scooping up food from your bowl and placing it in the monks’ bowls. Don’t touch the monks’ hands as you place food in their bowls.

The monks of Luang Prabang have been making their morning journey for hundreds of years. Help keep the tradition alive by treating them with respect.

This guest post was written by Linda Martin from the award-winning indietravelpodcast.com. She’s been travelling around the world since February 2006 and helping others fulfil their dreams of long

Posted in Laos |

Incredible India – that’s the tagline spouted by India’s Ministry of Tourism in magazines, TV ads, from sidebars on websites and in newspapers. It is, however, absolutely true – India is incredible. Home to over a billion people speaking hundreds of different languages and dialects, worshipping Gods of several different religions, eating a huge range of cuisines and living in climate extremes, from the snowy peaks of the Himalayas to the humid tropics of Kerala, India is nothing if not diverse. Leave your expectations on the plane – India will surprise again and again. You can travel around the world and not experience anything like India’s frenetic cities, tranquil backwaters, majestic mountains, spiritual temples and topical beaches. India is incredible indeed.

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Mumbai

Love it or hate it, Mumbai won’t fail to leave an impression. The most populous city in India, and the sixth most populous in the world, Mumbai is crowded, loud and full of life and colour. The prospect of earning far more than in their native rural villages has prompted millions to flock to the city from across India, leading to an incredible melting pot of cultures, cuisines, religions and languages.

Kerala

Being smaller than other Indian states, Kerala can seem less daunting, and it is certainly calmer than cities such as Mumbai and Delhi. Famed for its tranquil backwaters, a languid trip down the rivers, canals and lagoons on a houseboat is utterly relaxing and a fantastic antidote to the craziness of the major cities. Kicking back on a chaise longue, watching the fish and the birds and bankside villages come and go is pure bliss.

Goa

Opinion is divided on Goa – some see it as the very worst example of modern travel excesses, but even they can’t deny that the beaches are stunning. Fine white sand, backed by jungle and sloping down to a turquoise sea, Goa’s beaches are the stuff of picture-postcard tropical paradise. And it is possible to get away from the party-mad tourists. Try Arambol, the region’s northernmost beach, which is so vast it is easy to find yourself the only soul in sight. Of course, if partying is your thing, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Darjeeling

This quintessential Indian hill station was the first to be established by the British. Its stunning Himalayan setting and incredible views of Khangchendzonga (the third highest peak in India) are reason enough to visit but of course it is also a Mecca for tea drinkers. Fantastic treks and mountain biking along steep ridges abound so be sure to bring sensible footwear! For something really special, hop aboard the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Built in the 1880s, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in the 90s for its stunning vistas as it climbs 7,000 feet.

Varanasi

India is a deeply spiritual place and nowhere is that more obvious than at the bathing ghats lining the Ganges in Varanasi. One of the country’s holiest cities, Varanasi is where many Hindus come to die or be cremated and pilgrims flock to the holy river in their thousands to wash away their sins. This public display of life and death can sometimes be overwhelming but it is profoundly moving and gives an incredible insight into an ancient religion.

Posted in Asia |