Phu Si

The shrine in Wat Phaouak

Directly opposite the royal palace is the hill, Phu Si.  Wat Phaouak is near the bottom, built in 1860 and sadly not in great condition nowadays.  It has some beautiful paintings on the ways which are crumbling away.

There’s a very steep staircase leading up to a shrine at the top of the hill (having seen a lot of temples and shrines by now this one is not noteworthy) and fantastic views over Luang Prabang and both the Mekong and Khan rivers.

The Khan and suburbs of Luang Prabang

The final attraction on Phu Si is Buddha’s Footprint.  It’s a short walk further on, past a series of Buddha statues and a ‘hermit’ in a cave who is so lifelike I thought I’d interrupted a Religious Moment the first time I walked in on him.  

Hermit statue in front of three Buddhas 

There are many signs to the Footprint, and it’s not entirely clear what to expect: how big will it be?  How distinct?  Will it be obvious or will we walk past it?  So many questions, and only signs pointing onwards to let us know we weren’t there just yet...

In the end, and despite a few false trails, it turns out there is a final sign just outside a small cave in which is the Footprint.  If this truly is a Footprint, Buddha must have been colossal.  And had some terrible problems with his feet!

Despite all indicators, this is not Buddha's footprint!

The (left) Footprint.  Heel is on the left, big toe on the right bottom.  I could probably lie down comfortably in the depression from the sole