Luang Prabang...Day 2

Last night we checked out half of the night markets which starts just outside our guesthouse. They have some really beautiful Hmong handicrafts and the typical tourist t-shirts as well. Today we went to the Royal Palace Museum where the Royal family lived until they were taken away and sent to a cave prison by the Pathet Lao (Lao Communists) in 1977. They all died within 4 years. The grounds were beautiful! There were reception halls with murals painted on the walls and the King and Queen's bedrooms were left in their original state. There was a room full of diplomatic gifts from foreign countries, including a boomerang from Australia and a moon rock from the US (cheap compared to the gifts from countries like Burma and Cambodia). Outside they are building a temple which was planned by the monarchy but not started until after their deaths. When it is finished it will hold the country's most important Buddha image. Tonight we are going to see a performance by the Royal Ballet Theatre.