Though I have spoken of Luang Prabang as a place to be and do nothing being a dyed-in-the-wool NYer I have to find some activity that requires some effort (aside from eating), it's part of the pact we make as NYers. So, in this case there is the monk's early morning procession where they 'beg for alms'. As I understand it: it is part of their training as monks to walk through the streets at dawn with their begging bowls, which are quite large, by the way (see photo). I thought they were the size of a Japanese soup bowl, but more like the size of a small tabla drum. Maybe in India they are smaller?
Anyway, some rather enterprising woman make sticky rice and 'offerings' to sell to people like me (early rising tourists) to give to these monks. 15,000 kip (though some try to get more) for a plastic tray filled with: small bananas, sticky rice sweets, clementines and a straw container of sticky rice. They spread out a mat on the ground, along the sidelines of the walking monk and pantomime how to give offerings. The cheeky part is when you run out they seem to be right next to you (magically?) and want to sell you another tray. It's another form of 'rock concert' that lasts a lot less longer than sunrise. But I like the photos I got and it was an interesting experience worth getting up for. The monks seem rather shy and it is said that you shouldn't photograph them unless you ask or are sitting lower. I did the latter, they seemed not interested but use to the fuss being made. They all looked well fed.
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