Elephants, caves and yoga in LP

Day two in this heavenly lil town started with a half day trip to an elephant reserve. It did get off to a little late start because they forgot to pick us up so once we called they sent another driver to do so and as I fastened my seatbelt, I realized this was the first time I've been in a normal car with seatbelts since January! We stopped at a whiskey tasting village to imbibe in the surprisingly tasty rice wine and nostril-burning Lao Lao whiskey (It was rough but I'm never one to turn down a sample, even at 10 am).

Then it was off to the elephants home. We first boated across the Mighty Mekong to the Pak Ou Cave which, like most caves in this largely Buddhist country, was packed with over 4,000 Buddhas (and about two dozen tourists photographing the few Buddhists praying to the largest Buddha).

Then we boated back to climb atop our friendly beast for a ride through the jungle and the local village.

Our elephant was led by only two young machete-weilding boys, probably aged 6 and 9, so I was really hoping nothing crazy happened! Thankfully, the elephant was treated really well (especially compared to the metal poker used on the elephants in Nepal) and the boys only had to occasionally pull it by the small rope leash wrapped around his ear and the machete was only used to cut the passion fruit the boys picked up along the way. It was fun watching the children get excited about the elephant tromping through their village.

We returned to LP and ventured to Utopia for lunch and were happy to see a yoga class starting in 15 minutes so I quickly changed and we joined in. It was amazing to get a little bendy while overlooking the river, where locals are swimming and fishing, and realize how much more fun natural hatha yoga is compared to an artificially heated room! After lunch lounging on comfy pillows on the beautiful wooden balcony, we finally had a chance to veg after a few very busy travel days. I enjoy the adventure of traveling but I don't want this to feel like a job or anything!

I'd like to add this humorous photo that depicts a traditionally-clad women on the pedestrian crosswalk signs. It funny how each society adapts these signs to their culture. Through in a tuk-tuk and a Wat (temple) in the background and you sum up most of Laos culture in one picture!