Hi, guys! How are you today? Hopefully, it’s fine like mine.
It’s me again, Mutiah, from Indonesia, who wrote a post encouraged everyone to write more impactful reviews on Maps using eco-friendly tips and hashtag #ecolifestyle.
I just back from a week traveling around Luang Prabang, Laos. Gratefully, I’m selected as one of 50 youngsters from all around Southeast Asia for joining Eco Sustainable Tourism workshop held by The Asia Foundation and US Mission for ASEAN.
Now I present you the great insights I found during traveling in Luang Prabang ecotourism destinations and also some useful lists for you. Enjoy!
Luang Prabang: Handle With Care
Yes, that’s an official slogan of Luang Prabang green movement. Since 1995, this beautiful old town has been declared as a heritage city by UNESCO. In this peaceful town, you’ll find many old French colonial buildings, traditional Lao house, Buddhism temples, until small local shops that are still used until now. Facing the famous Mekong River, many riverside bars provide exceptional view and great dishes (Western and local) and also the famous Beerlao (local beer’s brand).
#Ecolifestyle Movement in Luang Prabang
During the week, I noticed many features in the town that really shown their concern for protecting the natural and social environment. I summarize it to some points:
1. No More Waste!
It’s rare to find plastic mineral water in the shop. Most people bring their own shopping bags to the market. No plastic straws because bamboo straws are everywhere. No tissue, just small cotton napkins in the wash basin.
You can find many beautiful recycled paper bags in the night market. Local organic farms have been developing projects for supplying organic food to the hospitality business around Luang Prabang. Almost all business need to manage their waste until reached possible minimum waste. Food waste? They’re already made compost from it.
Like the eco-friendly resort that I stayed for a week, this lodge didn’t use anything plastic, from the laundry bag until the complimentary mineral water. It’s all recyclable and degradable. If you’re planning some eco-friendly stay during the holiday, this resort and some local accommodations around the town is a must visit.
2. Free refills for everyone!
Luang Prabang mostly warm during the day (76 °F) so bring your own bottle around is a must. Don’t have one? You can find it at nearby gift shops. I’ve found one and write a review about the shop.
Almost all famous gift shops, local shops, some hotels, and temples provide water refills station for everyone. It’s fresh and mostly free (some are paid but on small amount). Don’t worry, I also made a **list **for it (20+ places).
3. Two wheelers are all-around!
Away from hustle and bustle, this place is great for strolling around by bicycle. You can get a bike from USD 2 per day from nearby bike rentals or you can use it for free if your hotels provided it. Enjoy the pollution-free tour while seeing many beautiful temples and buildings, also the famous Mekong River. Well, it’s pretty safe during the day and night, just beware of your belongings as usual. Here’s a pictures of my bike, parked due to my visit to Mount Phousi.
4.Put It Where It BelongsAll trashcans and trash bin on this town already been separated into three (plastic, paper, and organic). You can find them in many places, even in the middle of the mountain forest!
Some local businesses even made more separation and successfully organized it into more valuable resources. Here’s what I found in one famous hotel there. They separated the garbage into 6 different kinds.
This hotel are great, I even mentioned it on my review. Anyway, if you don’t find any trash bin nearby, just keep your litters for some minutes and you’ll find the bin soon.
I also went to outside town tourism destinations. From natural resources, such as Kuang Si Waterfalls and cultural village until local ecotourism businesses and also sustainable local businesses (more of them on this list). Most of them help preserving natural and social environment, help local community boost their skills and livelihood thru responsible tourism.
From many valuable experiences that I found on this full week on-the-road trip, I can summarize that this town already succeeds in applying eco-friendly and sustainable tourism and inspired me to do the same to my community in Indonesia. But, most of these places are don’t have any sufficient exposure on Google Maps (lack of reviews, photos, etc), so I think it’s better if we can support many places like this (and similar business in our area, also) with visiting them, add ratings and reviews, make them known and spread their positive movement thru social media and Maps.
Hopefully, this post gives you some new insights. Do you also have experience with ecotourism and eco-friendly businesses in your place? Or maybe interested in #ecolifestyle and want to give some greetings?
Kindly comments below. Kop chai lai lai!*
Mutiah
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*) “Kop chai lai lai” means “thank you so much” in Lao