“Sabay Dee” Luang Prabang
admin April 12th, 2007
Luang Prabang March ,2007
Along the way from Vientiane to Luang Prabang by bus it’s such a long trip as it’s up and down and up and down the hills.
The narrow way on the hill doesn’t make me feel afraid but it made me more excited when I saw the village along the road with the simple houses made from wood and made me realize how simple life of the people on the hill.
I feel really excited because this is the first time I will be to Luang Prabang, the city of a beautiful temple and the city with lots of monks in the morning for putting rice for a happiness in our next life.
I start thinking if I’ll be there one day in the morning I will put the rice for their monks.
After almost 10 hours of bus we arrived in Luang Prabang. I was very tired and we walked looking for the place to sleep we found one which costs 13 $ per night with hot shower.
It’s not too bad but the room is a bit dark, well, Luca told
me
“we will looking for the new place for 2 weeks tomorrow”.
In the next morning we get one guest house(Xang KeoGuest House).
It’s a very beautiful Guest House, it cost 15$ but we stay for 2 week so the owner discount to be 13 $ per night.
After moving we walked a bit around the city.
The temple is really beautiful with a colorful designs near by the street with the old
traditional house.
I was thinking of my mum, if she were here she will very happy! Many temples are made of wood but some not .
This makes me feel the pure heart of the builder whose intention to do it not just it is his work but he does it because he loves it and that’s all from his soul, so you can enjoy and be amazed by it. That why it’s so wonderful.
Everybody here is quiet and the ladies are wearing a traditional hand made skirt.
When you walk pass they never forget to smile for you with a greeting of “Sabay Dee” (Hallo).
They are greeting you not because of money but it is the polite way to make you feel like home.
For me I feel very shy because in Bangkok I not feel used to it anymore.
said “Sawasdee” as we did before and not just let it happen by I said back to them “Sabay Dee”, it means “Hallo”, and I feel like it would be nice if in Thailand Thai people realized it and greet tourists with a big smile and the business only.
Every Thai people always said Laos is not modern like Thailand but for me I think they are modern but not just only building, they have a modern heart but in Thailand I always hear only “Hi or Hello” to tourists instead.
I am upset and think if Thai people not start to say “Sawasdee” often, soon we will loose the people who come to visit us in Thailand as many people come here because they love our culture and our language so If we forget it we will not be Thai anymore.
Well, I hope somebody can hear me.
Sawasdee.
Lek
- My Travels , Laos , culture
…Sawasdee! nice post! i found this blog from luca’s homepage (tripluca.com). Well, i hope u will post a lot of messages. your life with luca, around the world, is a preciuos thing that will give u knowlegde, wisdom, soul’s wealth. there’s nothing better!! I read your blogs (luca and u) here in venice and your words give me always beautiful vibes…
Thanx!!
Bye !!!
Sabai Dee Lek,
It’s just because Bangkok is such a big modern city. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed your time. Hope you go back soon.
And a big Sabai Dee Pii Mai to you.
Hi,
Thank you for all your coment.
I am fine (Sabai Dee Pi Mai too na kha!) but now I am in Ubud and soon will be to Thailand again.
Take care!/Lek
Dear Lek,
You have a very nice website and I find all your comments very interesting. I hope you view on the tak bat will be taken to heart by the tourists , who will read your blog. Like you said . giving alms has a personal significance , it is more appropiate to watch from a distance . The processions of the Monks is beautiful to watch , but over the years the presence of tourists is very disruptive to this peaceful custom. People , who want to take pictures , should take them from a distance and with respect. My first visit to Luang Prabang was in 2000 and to this time it was still a very spiritual place . In the morning the Monks went along the road by the Mekong river , which to this time was still a dirt road and it was a wonderful ritual to watch with the morning mist rising from the Mekong. This part of the route is now gone for ever.
On my first visit with my husband we met a little Novice from Vat Nong , he spoke a little english ( we are from England ) and so we kept in touch. We visited the next year and the year after I went with him to a visit to his parents . They are Khmu and live in a very remote village in Udomxai province. I was very shocked by the poverty there and this gave me the intention to help this little Novice , to give him the education he wished for.
Since 2004 he studies at the Lao-American College in Vientiane , with us as his sponsors and he became like a son to us. This year he left the temple . I am travelling every year to Lao to visit him , we are meeting up in Luang Prabang and after some days driving to his village. In October it will be my 8. visit in L.P. and it became like a second home to me. Now you see, why I love this country so very much .
I like Thailand very much too , Bangkok for the shopping . It is always a stopover for some days before travelling to Lao. We visited the area around Chiang Rai and went with boat to L.P.
I like the north of your country very much and we travelled there around Chiang Mai a lot . In October we will spend some days there too.
Keep up your beautiful website and I will visit it again. Have a wonderful time travelling with your boyfriend. Gisela