Kouang Si Falls and More

Off to the Falls

We have a leisurely morning at the hotel…which is a good thing because I couldn’t get to sleep until after 1:30am.

Today it is sunny with a high of 22 degrees. John and I are in short sleeve shirts and slathered in sunscreen while most of the locals are wearing sweaters or puffy jackets.

We have booked a ride in a shared van to Kuang Si Falls. We are the first ones picked up and we spend almost an hour as the shuttle bus drives around picking other people up before we commence the 40 minute drive to the waterfall parking lot. But it’s only $6.50 CAD each return versus $50 CAD each if we booked with a tour guide. I sleep the whole way. Upon arrival, we are told that we have to be back at the van in two hours.

After buying tickets, we take an electric shuttle cart to the gates of the waterfall trails.

At Kouang Si Waterfall

John and I immediately take the road (the fastest way to the base of the falls). We stop to quickly check out the endangered moon bear sanctuary with plans to explore further on our way back.

The falls are beautiful. They are so delicate and lace-like in the way the water spreads and falls over the umbrella-like stones. The pools around are a lovely aqua colour. See falls video here.

Top of the Waterfalls

We climb the 570 stairs to the top of the waterfalls. Jungle surrounds us.

At the top are numerous shaded and sun dappled pools and streams leading to the falls. People are swimming. We cross bridges and explore the pretty area.

By the time we take the stairs back down and explore some of the lower falls and pools, 1 3/4 hours have passed. We only have time to get back to our shuttle…no time to really look at the bear sanctuary or the butterfly area. Two hours is not enough time to explore this beautiful area. On the way back, the British lady next to me said that she had been told we would have three hours to explore.

Tip: If we were to do this again, we would rent a driver (cheaper than taking a tour but more than the shuttle) to take us there so that we have time to explore a lot of the things this area has to offer, and even have a chance to take a swim.

The shuttle company had over booked this shuttle and someone had to sit on the floor each way. Two younger guys in their late twenties/early thirties did this. Being at the back of the bus, the ride is very bumpy at one point our heads come close to hitting the ceiling.

An Evening in Luang Prabang

John and I have a plan upon our return: get changed, get a snack, I get a pedicure and then we go for sunset yoga. We realize that time is getting tight so we stop at a cute restaurant, I have shrimp Pad Thai and a coconut water. John only has a nicely displayed fresh mango and beer.

We explore side streets on the way to the yoga studio only to find that tonight’s class has an earlier 5:00pm start. The pedicure is back on. We head to the Silver Naga salon. Upon arrival I am told that the person that does pedicures is not here today. When ask about tomorrow, I’m told that they won’t be there all week. This is the third salon that advertises pedicures and then says the person that does them isn’t there. Many salons offer toe nail clipping but refer to it in a different manner (see picture).

As we walk along the main street at sunset we pass several temples. In each we can hear monks chanting. We enter one temple to listen to a small group of boy monks (I’m sure they have a better name than ‘boy monks’, perhaps novices?). Some are rather out of tune. In other temples we hear what sounds like older monks doing more melodious chants. See video here of the boy monks chanting.

Each night the main street gets transformed. The street is lined with many of the original French colonial homes now converted to cafes, restaurants and stores. At 5pm the street is closed to traffic and countless stalls pop up along both sides selling goods and food. By morning the stalls are all gone and the traffic flows again.

In lieu of my pedicure I go for an aromatherapy massage while John goes to a nearby restaurant for some Loation food and partakes in the happy hour (2 for 1 drinks) by ordering gin & tonics.

We walk home through the night market and make it an early night because we are getting up at 5am to watch the monks do their morning alms giving ceremony.