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Photo of the Week: Cycling Monks in Muang Sing, Laos – Insights into Buddhist Life

Photo of the Week: Cycling Monks in Muang Sing, Laos – Insights into Buddhist Life

Laos, a devoutly Buddhist nation, is dotted with monks in their iconic orange robes—a common and inspiring sight across Asia. We've shared casual chats with one in Thailand aboard a pickup truck taxi, but in Laos, interactions are often limited to shy nods from monks at temples, markets, or, as captured here, pedaling on bikes through Muang Sing.

Most Lao men spend at least a short time in a temple or monastery, gaining what is considered the country's top education. Revered as the wisest, many monks endure challenging lives. In remote areas, they forage for food in the forests or depend on community donations. Locals believe offering alms to these respected figures enhances their karma, fostering a deep cultural bond.

 

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