There are some great places to spend your time just hanging out in Luang Prabang Laos; however Laos is very much a developing country and there simply are not too many swimming pools around. Being a traditionally modest society due to it's Buddhist ways, lounging around with your shirt off borders on taboo in this culture. My steemit friends, if you've followed me long enough you would know, lounging around with my shirt off is what I do best!
After about twenty days in Laos I made my way to the most developed and most touristed place in the country, Luang Prabang. The country of Laos is landlocked, it has no beaches and it's very hot and sunny almost every day. I was itching to find a swimming pool, a place I could just relax in the mid-day sun, take to the shade, hop in the pool, and have a cocktail. I figured with all the tourists here there would have to be some nice swimming hole in town. Sure enough a quick google search gave me my answer! La Pistoche Swimming Pool and Bar!
The information online says it's a bit out of town and I'd have to take a taxi for 1.50 to get there. Turns out it was two kilometers from where I was staying. Out of town? Taxi? Ha! For me this was a great opportunity to go for a nice walk, see what I can see, so that's exactly what I did on my way to La Pistoche Swimming Pool and Bar!
I spent my morning eating exotic fruit and steeming it! Then I got myself ready and headed out to find my swimming pool and afternoon cocktails! I hit the road and soon found this helpful sign here.
I walk further down the road in the direction the sign has pointed me. I look to my left and I see a great indicator that things are on the rise economically in this developing nation. You can see they are building some kind of complex related to the growing tourism industry.
I continue on my way. I quickly see another indicator of a growing economy and investment from abroad. This time it's the grand opening of a Japanese Bank!
I walk a little further. It's hot, it's sunny, I'm sweating and looking forward to jumping in the pool. I look to my left and take a real life photo of the Lao school girl in-front of the Finance Department of Luang Prabang Province. Then to my relief I see this sign here. I've made it!
Fifty meters later I pay my 3 dollar entrance fee. Camera in hand I take some photos to share with my Steemit friends!
I was hoping for a bit more of a social atmosphere but it was mostly Lao children, Korean tourist, and two couples speaking Languages I didn't understand. However I was very happy to be there, I jumped in the pool, swam over to the pool bar, learned it was two for one specials all day, and returned to my chase lounge with a couple mango daiquiris and some jack fruit I brought along with me.
It was a great way to relax and spend the afternoon. After not seeing a swimming pool since Ko Pha Ngan Thailand a month earlier I was very happy with my decision on where to hang out! If you like this post please view some of my others and consider following. Thank you! -Dan "World Travel Pro!
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