As I’m starting to feel better today, we venture out for a light lunch followed by a gentle walk. The eating turns out to be not such a good idea as my digestive system is protesting. Our walk takes us along Sakarine Road towards the end of the peninsular. It is late afternoon and the monks are beginning to sound the call to prayers, a ceremony which involves beating the enormous drum which hangs in the drum tower of each Wat and is accompanied by the crashing of cymbals. There are four temples in close proximity along this stretch of road and the street is soon throbbing with a powerful, mesmerising and affecting rhythm. As we pass each one we stop to watch the half dozen or so monks in their orange robes take it in turns to perform the strenuous drum beats.
Monks and novices in their characteristic saffron robes and in many cases with matching umbrellas and shoulder bags are a common site in Luang Prabang. They seem to have a particular gait as they go about their business; walking to and from school, visiting friends and relatives or carrying out some unknown task. Often sauntering down the street in groups of two or three, they are never far from view, adding a splash of colour to the landscape. There are 66 temples in the town of which around half support communities of monks. It is apparently quite common, even expected, that young Lao men and even boys spend some time as a monk/novice at a temple where in addition to studying the teachings of the Buddha, they receive a general education and can learn English and French. It is no doubt partly due to the existence of so many Wats and monks that this compact town has such a feeling of calm serenity.