Back In Time
MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore|June - July 2017

In sleepy Luang Prabang, age-old traditions continue to thrive, even as more people begin to discover the Jewel of the Mekong. 

Sharon Lim
Back In Time

It’s 5.30am and we’re kneeling on the pavement just outside the main gate of the Amantaka resort, cradling woven wicker baskets warm with freshly-cooked sticky rice in our laps. Sunrise is minutes away. Soon, Luang Prabang’s saffron-robed monks will emerge from their temples and begin their daily procession along the streets of this sleepy town, and we will fill each of their bowls with alms – balls of sticky rice.

But this is not seen as an act of charity on our part. Rather, it’s a blessing from the monks that allows the giver to benefit spiritually from giving. Unfortunately, “some tourists put in biscuits, sweets, and even cigarettes”, says “Nit” Nithakhong Somsanit, Amantaka’s cultural advisor and a prominent activist in the preservation of Laotian traditions and arts. “This is wrong. Tourism brings in income, but it is taking over our culture.”

Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of Laos and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995, is poised for a tourism boom. Arrivals are slated to increase by 16 per cent annually, and according to a 2015 report in The Laotian Times, an estimated 600,000 people visited the city in 2016. Singapore carrier Silk Air has increased the number of direct flights between Singapore and Laos – the only land-locked country in Southeast Asia. There are now three flights weekly to Luang Prabang from Singapore via Vientiane, and directly back to Singapore from Luang Prabang. Previously, only Lao Airlines served direct routes between the two.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June - July 2017 من MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June - July 2017 من MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من MEN 'S FOLIO SINGAPORE مشاهدة الكل
An Electrifying Ride
MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore

An Electrifying Ride

With a pack full of features, the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4MATIC SUV promises luxurious, joyful and fuss-free journeys.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2024
Full Circle
MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore

Full Circle

The Macallan travels back in time with the TIME:SPACE to celebrate 200 years of whisky-making mastery.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 2024
Maturity in Spirit
MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore

Maturity in Spirit

The Glenrothes' revamped Core Collection mirrors our human bildungsroman, revealing the artistry behind the maturation process with its latest pop-up.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2024
Benvenuto a Locanda
MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore

Benvenuto a Locanda

There is no experience more impactful than an honest meal and earnest hospitality, so Locanda makes for an appealing culinary stopover that should not be missed.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 2024
A Genuine Article of Fusion
MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore

A Genuine Article of Fusion

Quenino by Victor Liong is the resident fine-dining hideout of Artyzen Singapore, its degustation menu showcases the best of Asian cuisine melded with contemporary Western savoir-faire.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2024
The Last Word
MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore

The Last Word

As the Official Timekeeper for the Olympics, there is a tremendous onus that comes with the role. After all, the Olympics is the world's stage where human excellence is measured down to the minutiae. By that standard, OMEGA's competence in the timekeeping field is also measured.

time-read
10+ mins  |
September 2024
From Paper to Metal
MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore

From Paper to Metal

Men's Folio visited the Cartier Manufacture and Maison des Métiers d'Art earlier this year to discover the unparalleled craftsmanship and innovation within those wall

time-read
7 mins  |
September 2024
Mavericks Amongst Traditionalists
MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore

Mavericks Amongst Traditionalists

Fashion watch brands are finding their feet amidst century old watchmakers as their maverick approach sets them apart from the current landscape of watchmaking.

time-read
10+ mins  |
September 2024
The Case for the "It" Watch
MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore

The Case for the "It" Watch

As much as watches in popular culture being necessary might be an unpopular opinion, here is why it is crucial to the survival of the passion we all love.

time-read
6 mins  |
September 2024
Heavy Lidded
MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore

Heavy Lidded

In the masculine world of grooming, the sport (or art) of decorating one's lids with darkened kohl has been practised amongst niche circles, reserved for only a few brave men willing to go - or draw - the lengths of a sharp winged liner. Given the past decade's adoration of the bare-is-best routines, the notion of lined eyes has been mostly cast away. However, as the return of the Indie Sleaze movement returns, confronting the pressing question cannot be put off any longer. Should the world be opening its eyes and waking up for the return of \"guyliner\"?

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024