A good night’s sleep restored my tired limbs and muddled senses. Since we had not planned on anything concrete today we took bicycles again and went around town. Visited a couple of Wats or temples. The highlight of the day was cycling all the way to Ban Pho, which is a village of weavers. The road was dusty and gravelly and full of inclines. Tiring fun and thoroughly enjoyable. I didn’t see any weavers but on the way back I noticed a small boy perhaps around two or three years old along the side of the road. He was wobbling along with a half eaten apple in his hand when he suddenly lost his balance and fell. Fat tears immediately rolled down his cheeks and I could not help but stop and try to console him. But he didn’t stop until his mother came running with a wide grin at me. She told me thanks and smiled at him and like a charm he stopped crying. Mother power.

After a bumpy ride with numerous stops to capture a glorious sunset over the Mekong along the way, we stopped at the Red Cross sauna and massage centre. At 10,000 kip (just over a dollar) for a sauna session it was well worth it. The proceeds go for charity and the sauna is enhanced with various herbs. We paid, changed into a sarong and then entered the sauna room, separate for men and women. A couple of women were already there and it was filled with swirling steam. I couldn’t see a thing but I could make out an oblong wooden structure on the ground in the middle of two benches, which was extremely hot. I imitated the woman standing on the bench and felt safer.

I emerged after 20 to 25 minutes, refreshed, glowing and clean. Dinner was a tasty pizza at the Le Bon cafe with a free Pepsi thrown in. The server mistook my order and brought two pizzas and an additional Pepsi, so we ended up paying for the extra Pepsi but it was fine really. We bought an Orange cake from one of the cake stalls in the night market and walked back to the room.

One thing I noticed is that there is a ticket needed for anything and everything. From entering a Wat to crossing a rickety bamboo bridge to just see a few weavers at work. Well, I stopped at the bridge but entered a couple of Wats. The Buddha always beckons. Moreover, the wats all have a peaceful air that I drank in huge gulps. Peace is a rarefied commodity, especially once I go back to real life.

Well, a day well spent, not doing much and feeling like a dream after the exercise and the good food. Luang Prabang has indeed cast a spell.

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