Morning Alms
Luang Prabang, Laos

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Among the many shots I captured of the marching monks in Luang Prabang, this perhaps best depicts the nature of the daily alms ritual. Between 5:30 and 6:00 every morning, the quiet streets of Luang Prabang fill with the shuffling feet of the city's monks. Men, women, and children settle into position on the streets, baskets of rice in hand. One-by-one, the monks file by, receiving acknowledgement and food as they go. Their route is apparently fixed, each monastery filing into line one after the other. Other than a few dogs and chickens roaming around, there is scant evidence of other activity.

For its performers, the ritual is so routine that its beauty is likely missed. To an outsider, however, the practice is one of rare beauty. There's something so peaceful about it, so culturally fascinating. You have all these people - otherwise total strangers - interacting every day in fairly intimate fashion. There is an exchange of food and often more - a nod, a bow, a whispered word. The givers, working to attain release from the cycle of incarnation on earth, give humbly and unselfishly. The receivers, working to attain release from the cycle of incarnation on earth, accept humbly and unselfishly. The ritual is one practiced by Buddhists everywhere - and perfected in Luang Prabang.

The vantage point for this shot was provided by Phu Si Hill. While my first two mornings in Luang Prabang were spent on the streets capturing close-up shots, I decided on my last two days to try capturing the scene from above. This made for a very early rise - and a brisk walk up Phu Si Hill. I was then forced to hunt for a good hole in the heavy vegetation, hopefully one with a view of appropriate streets. (While the peak of Phu Si offers wonderful city views, the alms route is only visible from other parts of the hill.) Tripod setup wherever I could find solid footing, I managed several decent shots, this being one of them.

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