CROSS THE RIVER FOR A LEISURELY PRIVATELY GUIDED 2-3 HOUR WALK, VISITING ABANDONED TEMPLES AND SAMPLING LOCAL LIFE. YOUR ADVENTURE BEGINS WITH A SHORT RIVER-CROSSING FROM THE BOAT JETTY BEHIND THE PALACE MUSEUM. AFTER DISEMBARKING AT XIENG MENE’S MAKESHIFT BOAT LANDING, WALK THROUGH AN OPEN MARKET AND YOU’LL SOON FIND A WOODEN SIGN THAT DIRECTS YOU TO THE TEMPLES. A NARROW YET WELL-KEPT FOOTPATH UNFOLDS AND YOU ARE SOON GREETED WITH A CHORUS OF “SA BAI DII” FROM CHILDREN OF THE LOCAL VILLAGE. VAT XIENG MENE IS THE FIRST OF FOUR TEMPLES AND A LIVING COMPLEX RESTORED BY UNESCO. A MODEST FEE WILL ENCOURAGE A SENIOR MONK TO OPEN THE DOORS TO THE MAIN WORSHIP HALL WHERE A LARGE SEATED BUDDHA RESTS. CONTINUING THROUGH THE NEXT VILLAGE, CLIMB OVER A HUNDRED STEPS TO VAT CHOMPHET - STOPPING TO CATCH YOUR BREATH AND MARVEL AT THE PANORAMIC VIEW OF LUANG PRABANG EMBRACED BY THE MEKONG. UPON ENTERING THE TEMPLE, YOU WILL SEE A SEATED BUDDHA AND INTRICATE ALTAR SPACE. THOUGH ABANDONED, IT IS SCHEDULED FOR RESTORATION AND EASY TO IMAGINE ITS IMPORTANCE TO RESIDENTS OF THE AREA IN YEARS GONE BY. AS YOU DESCEND THE STAIRS, THE TRAIL WINDS THROUGH A CANOPY OF LARGE TREES TO VAT LONG KHOUAN. THIS VAT IS REGARDED AS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL IN TOWN; UNESCO-RESTORATION HAS SUPPLIED IT WITH FRESH GOLD-LEAF AND NATURAL PAINT ILLUSTRATIONS OF BUDDHA’S LIFE ON THE INNER WALLS AND PAINTINGS OF MYTHICAL ANIMALS ON THE CEILING OF THE MAIN TEMPLE.NOT FAR BEYOND LONG KHOUN, YOU WILL REACH VAT TAM XIENG MENE. ALTHOUGH THE WAT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN ABANDONED FOR MANY YEARS, ONE CAN VISUALIZE HOW PICTURESQUE IT MUST HAVE BEEN AS A 'KUOTI’ YOUR UNIQUE DISCOVERY OF THESE FOUR TEMPLES IS NOW COMPLETE, AND YOU WALK BACK TO LONG KHOUAN TO ACCESS YOUR BOAT AND CROSS THE RIVER ONCE MORE.
