Travel

The Kuang Si falls in Luang Prabang are probably one of Laos most famous tourist attractions. Close to the cozy town of Luang Prabang, with its famous nightmarket and excellent food, you will find a cascade of clear water dropping down in front of your eyes. Everywhere you look in the town center, somebody will try to sell you a tour to this tourist destination. Well don’t. Wait until after lunchtime and then see which desperate tuc tuc drivers didn’t make a sale. These are the ones you will want to talk to because they have been unable to score money and are therefore still looking to make some money in the afternoon. You’ll find yourself in the power position to drive the small 30 kilometers from the town and back. Prepare yourself for a bumpy ride, but it is definitely worth it.

This outfit dates back from my short stint in Antwerp, but it doubles perfectly as a casual chic travel outfit. Therefore, I took it this whole outfit with me. A body-con skirt is an easy, light and practical way to add class to your backpack. Throw on a casual t-shirt and you have the perfect daytime outfit in cities where you do not want to walk around like a backpacker or when you want to apply for a (backpacker)job. Add a fancier top for a night out or for a visit to one of the many cosmopolitan rooftop bars.

Arriving in India I waited for the famous Indian culture shock for quite a while. Visiting Kerala, the most southern province of India, was a bit overwhelming, but there was nothing that was too much for our senses. My first true culture shock came while visiting the Calcutta flower market also known as the Mallik Ghat market. It was a very powerful experience and still is one of the activities I’ll recommend when visiting Calcutta or Kolkata in West Bengal, India. Just as I’m putting it on your to-do list, it was praised to us as a true local experience by a friend of a friend and, he was right. This flower market is, just as most things in India, unlike any other flower market you have visited before. I went thinking of Columbia flower market in London or the local foreigners market (aka vreemdelingenmarkt) in Antwerp and quickly had to adjust my expectations. First of all they don’t sell flowers to put in vases and you will most certainly not find any plants. What you will find is fresh flower petals, flower heads, flower decorations and garlands in all colors and shapes. Most of these flowers will be used for ceremonial purposes and only a small fraction of the flowers will be used to decorate a home, unless there is a ceremony held within. The most important flowers are yellow and orange marigolds, roses, orchids and several other flowers that all serve a different religious and/or medicinal purpose in daily Indian life.