Mornings in Savannakhet are the best part of the day. Sunrise in Laos not to be missed. Beautiful views and streets teaming with a unique local life. People are more active in the early hours before the sun begins its scorching. The Mekong River sits still, joggers line the perimeter and motorbikes and tuk-tuks buzz on nearby streets. Street food stalls pop-up and roadside cafes open. However the most important sight at this time, not to be missed, is the monks.
Morning in Savannakhet
The monks come from Wat Rattanalangsi a nearby temple. Early morning is the only time to find monks outside temple grounds unless travelling for official business. They patrol the streets of Savannakhet with alms bowls in front to collect offerings and food from locals in the area. After finishing their route they will return to the temple to feast.
If you plan on finding monks when in Laos be sure to get to the streets early (6am a good time). Look for pavements lined with locals waiting with chairs, tables and upside Beer Lao crates topped with goodies. They wait to make offerings and to be blessed by the monks with prayer and holy water. An iconic sight of Laos.
Breakfast Time in Savannakhet
Roadside cafes and street food serve from 6.00am onwards. The earlier hours the busier. Look for locals on plastic chairs under roadside canopies. For breakfast I go with a Lao Noodle Soup and complimentary Green Tea (15,000 Kip or US$2.00). On my return to the hotel a takeaway Baguette Sandwich (10,000 Kip 0r US$1.3). Slightly expensive compared to other areas of Laos but still relatively cheap.
Daytime in Savannakhet
Daytime it is best to stay inside. Of course not so easy when itching to explore but in truth not much happens during the day. Locals will hide and can often be found sleeping at their shop house businesses. I generally go for a Lao Massage (similar to Thai) and laze at riverside restaurants.
For massage parlours you can find a couple on the main street – the most popular opposite the Old Market in the city centre (between 9W and the main Ratsavong Road). The Mekong River also a good option for daytime. Riverside restaurants open day long and offer the opportunity for the cliched Beer Lao / Mekong river photo-op (as below). For the more adventurous there are day tours in the area.
Temples, waterfalls etc. The best place for booking tours in Savannakhet is Lin’s Cafe which sits next to the picturesque Talat Yen Plaza. Great coffees. The Plaza area is also worth pottering around in. Here you find Saint Theresa Church and French colonial shop houses. Dinosaur museum?
Related posts:
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét