Lost in Hanoi 2

These pictures of Hanoi were taken at the Old Quarter and Temple of Literature. The latter is a little too touristy for my liking. Visit only if you’re into traditional architecture.

Lost in Hanoi

I travelled to Hanoi recently for some R&R, but ended up more stressed! The city is crowded, chaotic and CRAZY! I hate to say this, but to me Hanoi is a very uninspiring city. Traffic is a killer (Hanoians don’t seem to know what traffic lights are for or they just don’t give a damn?), everything looks very old and dated (many buildings desperately need a new coat of paint) and Hoan Kiem Lake, what can I say? It’s OVERRATED! You definitely can’t find peace and quiet here. But if you’re into outdoor aerobics (with Vietnamese techno music) and cheesy wedding shoots, then you’ll have a field day here. I must admit it’s quite an eye opener.

Anyway, Hanoi can be quite photogenic if you know where to look. Caveat #1 – exploring the city on foot is not an option. You have to brave speeding motorcycles, flying spits and potholes. Caveat #2 – Hanoi is not as pretty as my pictures look. It took a lot of patience and luck to get these shots.

Amantaka - Luxury Comes to Luang Prabang

Amanresorts has a knack for picking the most exotic destinations to house their properties. Their latest Amantaka is situated in the heart of Luang Prabang. A former provincial hospital, Amantaka is beautifully restored, retaining its original French colonial architecture. I’ve stayed at a few Aman properties, and I must say Amantaka is one of my favorites. It’s an oasis of calm, nostalgia, romance and luxury – a hotel aficionado’s dream come true. Amantaka has definitely elevated Luang Prabang’s hip status like what Amankora has done for Bhutan, and Amangalla and Amanwella for Sri Lanka.

My sincere thanks to Gary, Filipe, Chittima, Nisaya and all staff for their wonderful hospitality.

Lost in Luang Prabang 3

My favourite spot in Luang Prabang is the quiet stretch of road along the Nam Khan River (it’s nicest in the morning and evening). Here you can see locals going about their daily life. The Mekong side is a lot busier but it boasts a stunning sunset.

Lost in Luang Prabang 2

In Luang Prabang, it’s easy to get lost in its rich culture and religion. There are no less than 30 temples and 50 monasteries there. Because there are hardly any nightlife (you get the sense that its people are very wholesome), the hedonists would find Luang Prabang a bore, but if you love peace and quiet, it’s a haven!

Luang Prabang is best explored by foot or bicycle. In fact, the town is so tiny, you can cover all corners of it in half a day (it’d take longer if you linger at the temples and popular tourist sites like Mount Phou Si). And because it gets scorching hot in the afternoon, it’s a good idea to shield yourself with an umbrella just like what the monks do.

Lost in Luang Prabang 1

This is my second time in Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Listed town in Laos. I’m glad that nothing has changed, except for a gorgeous new Aman resort (I will be posting pics of Amantaka here soon).

Luang Prabang is still as magical as my first trip there in 2006. It’s one of South East Asia’s best kept secrets and best preserved destinations – no skyscrapers and shopping malls, instead lots of temples, original French colonial and Laotian architecture and monks.

“Where are you from?” a local lady asked.

“Singapore,” I replied.

“We have very few visitors from Singapore. Most are from Europe. I think Singaporeans have no taste in culture,” she said. I was quite surprised by her candid albeit sweeping statement. But I have to say she’s right.

To me, the best part of any trip is chatting up with the locals – you can really learn a thing or two from them.

Three Monks