Fah Thai Magazine May June 2019

DESTINATION: LUANG PRABANG
A
Quiet
Walk
To
Remember
Words Anutra Ungsuprasert
Photos Thalay Thammapakkul, Anutra Ungsuprasert,
Shutterstock
T
hey say life is slow in Luang Prabang. You
can’t imagine how slow until you get there.
This lovely UNESCO World Heritage city, and
a former Lao capital, still stands regal in its
peacefulness – the way it’s been for many years.
My visit to Luang Prabang last September – rainy and not
quite satisfactory – meant a return trip to this sunny land was
required. But another reason that pulled me back was missing the
elephant sanctuary on my last trip. I was told the slow, meditative
communion with these large giants somehow fits well with Luang
Prabang’s mood. So several months later, I head back, determined to
walk shoulder to shoulder with the elephants.
Staying at Rosewood Luang Prabang property, a 10-minute drive
from town, is very relaxing. It feels like being in one of Rudyard
Kipling’s adventures. The resort is nestled in a lush forested valley
split down the middle by a waterfall and the river it feeds. All rooms
are named after a famous person with a historical connection to
Southeast Asia, and a view of the Nam Dong river. You hear its
dancing flow while crickets chirp and birds sing.
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