I have found the most serene, slow-paced city in Southeast Asia, and one of the most spiritual. Luang Prabang is the City of the Buddha of Peace, hidden in the mountains of Laos. The population is a mere 15,000, with over 600 saffron-clad monks who inhabit its thirty pagodas. It’s incredible to walk the streets and suddenly stop to gaze at a temple in a place where time seems to stand still. My days are spent bicycling on the edge of the Mekong in exploration of a city that has become a favorite of mine, with its ideal mix of nature and sophistication. Many elegant restaurants with tasty Laotian cuisine, as well as charming local cafes on the river where I can sit over a good strong coffee for hours. Galleries are finding a home here as local artists are showcasing their work and the Laotians are taking more of an interest in art and literature. It is a place I would love to spend more time, ah yes time…

The Kuang Si waterfall, one of several in Laos…a great force of nature!

The morning monks taking their alms at sunrise. A most thoughtful and intimate moment.