Rising Before the Sun

David offering alms to the monks in Luang Prabang

Every morning before the sun rises, hundreds of locals gather on the sidewalks of Luang Prabang to offer alms to the more than 400 monks who live in monasteries in the town.  It is a really beautiful ritual and this morning we woke up before the sun and walked to the main street in town to offer our own alms - mangoes.  While this ritual is repeated in other towns in Laos, nowhere is it at the same magnitude as in Luang Prabang.  The monks are given fruit, rice, and other foods, which they all share during the one meal that they eat each day.  What a great way to start the day.

Monks collecting alms in Luang Prabang