Lovely laid back Laos had really bewitched us now and we had an amazing time, keeping  busy 'doing nothing, trying to find lots of things not to do"  And we didn't do them day after day.  It was divine.

Days start early in LP, we rose several times before 6.00am to catch the monks as they left Wat Xieng Thong in the dark of pre dawn.   Tourists don't seem to make it to the gate and there we could observer the living Buddhist tradition of Tak Bat in relative peace.

Women sit on their heels to give alms, men stand.  Some give rice or fruit some money.  

I find the sight of tour groups giving alms quite disturbing.  I would much rather give something when visiting the monastery than barge into a Buddhist ritual.  

The monks don't seem to object but then your average Buddhist is a much nicer person than I!

Back at the monastery it was time to make an offering of his own then relax.