Pak Ou Caves

Setting out for the Pak Ou Caves

Following the Mekong shore.

Dock in front of Ban Xang Hay village

Mekong River and Ban Xang Hay shore

Early stage in the Rice Liquor process

Lao Lao rice liquor with the added benefit of a Cobra.

Stairs just below the upper cave.

Buddhas inside the Upper Cave at Pak Ou.

Lower cave at Pak Ou.

Lower caves at Pak Ou.

Lower caves at Pak Ou.

PAK OU CAVES are upstream on the Mekong River from Luang Prabang. A small tour boat took six of us there, stopping en route so we could see the rice whiskey producing village of Ban Xang Hay. It was a short visit but but even a brief glimpse of Lao Lao being made was of interest. One could only presume that the bottles with the Cobras in them were intended as some kind of tonic.

We continued on to the Pak Ou Caves and when we arrived many other small boots were already there tied-up at the bottom of a sheer limestone cliff. The karst formation contained two caverns used for Buddhist worship: the upper and lower caves. The steps to the higher shrine was a sweaty climb in midday heat, up a long flight of steps.. Once at the upper caves one passed through a wooden portal in the entrance. Beyond was a 50 metre passage leading to groups of Buddha in the gloom.

Returning to the river the lower caves were partially just a vast overhang but the steeply inclined floor was just bursting with Buddhas, possibly thousands of them, in all shapes, sizes and states of condition. Despite the throngs of tourists this trip was completely rewarding and hopefully the pictures will convey a little bit of the magic from this tour.