We all went yesterday to visit the Pak Ou Caves. The Limestone caves are 25km up the Mekong River. The caves themselves have been a place of worship for more then 1000 years by Buddhist pilgrims. Pilgrims have left Buddha images inside the caves - so the caves are full of Buddha idols.
The journey up the Mekong (two hours up against the current and 1 hour back) was great.
Hopefully the photos will give you an idea of the all. For me it reminds me how much life the river brings in all its forms. It is truly spectacular and dramatic. The Mekong river is 4350 kilometres long and winds its way through six countries. It is the twelfth longest river in the world. Those facts straight from Mr Google !
Going down the steps to our boat for the day.
Just as we neared the bottom a boat with three monks crossed the river and landed.
The colours of their robes always make for a beautiful photo.
It would be fair to say we ate very well and very often this day!
We snacked on dry bananas, salted dry beans, rambutan, a delicious local fruit we call bubble fruit - not sure of it's proper name, coconut sticky rice with banana in the middle and more!
The boat was all wooden and beautifully polished - open windows on every side.
It was a perfect day for the boat - light breeze, sunny and lovely.
When we passed this spot all the young monks were swimming in the river - their robes hung up on the side. The Laos women in our boat started laughing and calling and the young monks started turning back flips for us!
Apparently in school holidays - like it is now - some families send their children to 'monk school' for a month or two. So these young boys may be ordinary school boys doing a month or two with the monks or they may be doing a longer time.
I am teaching 'summer school' - makes me think I would like to do a few months with the Buddhist nuns instead!
The every changing mountains are so lovely to watch.
We passed many boats on the river - a lot look like this but many small fishing boats as well.
There were also huge cargo boats for taking load to and from Thailand. They have a section for the family to live in and are massive.
Here are a few photos of the massive Buddha collection...
Some are obviously ancient and others fairly new.
They are scattered throughout the cave - some very very high up.
This is the floating bamboo platform that the boats pull up to below the caves.
This is in the lower cave. Latda who is the Laos secretary (translate - in charge of EVERYTHING!) showed the boys how to make an offering properly. To light candles and incense and pray.
It was such a lovely thing for the boys to do this with someone they know from school.
This was a very high nook that Wimitja and Kinyin went up some stairs to. When they came back Kinyin said "Wimitja didn't let me go and look properly, so can we go together again?"
"Sure," I said.
I walked up with him and at the top of the stairs you go onto some smooth rocks - obviously worn by so many pilgrims. Then to the window of the cave and down some smooth rocks. I was in front and as I stepped forward asked Kinyin "Is this where Wimitja wouldn't let you go?"
"Yes," he said.
Close to sheer drop off hundreds of metres to the river.
Excellent big brothering!
Some really old Buddhas.
Bamboo floating platform - looking down the river.
After the caves we went up a tributary to the side along the most amazing cliffs.
Similar in some ways to Ha long Bay in Vietnam but I thought more lovely for the empty surrounds and stunning colours and complete silence.
Me catching some sun - I still look like I am wearing white pants in most photos as we don't see that much sun!
Todd being artistic!
Here are the cargo boats - there is nothing to give an indication of size sadly but I guess imagine that you could fit more than ten people along each window you can see.
A lovely day!
