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Article: Bread and Buddhism in Laos' pleasing little town.
- Article from:
- Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA)
- Article date:
- April 24, 2006
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Contra Costa Times. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Anne Chalfant
LUANG PRABANG, Laos _ Upon arrival in Luang Prabang we scurried as fast as our overcurried tummies would allow to L'Elephant, a French restaurant.
Bread? Cheese? After two weeks in Thailand, where rice rules the plate, we were starved for both, and L'Elephant obliged with fresh-baked baguettes and mozzarella that melted in the mouth like chocolate.
As we sipped French wine, we were charmed by the twirling ceiling fan and French colonial architecture.
But the delicacy of the French touch ended outside the front door on the potholed, dirt street. Laos is an impoverished, communist country with a healthy tolerance ...