The city of Luang Prabang (literally translated as "Royal Delicate Buddha") in the People’s Republic of Laos counts with more than 30 temples in a city that today has a population of about 100.000 people. It is also notable as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the great preservation of these sites. Due to this, tourism is growing fast and locals are increasingly more in touch with foreigners. Nevertheless traditions in a country with a Buddist population of over 65% are well kept and respected.

Across the Mekong River, there is a small and quiet temple called Wat Longkhoune; not far from it, there is a very small and peculiar temple in the middle of a dense forest and about 20 meters under the ground in a very dim lighten cave.

I was lucky to be able to cross to this place with the head monk of this sanctuary along with a couple of his apprentices in a very small boat. They just brought with them the offerings that were given to them back in the city -basically some food- that the Master Monk took for the couple of days he was going to spend teaching and meditating with his apprentices.

These future monks were no older than 13 years old, and as mentioned before, much more exposed to the western culture due to tourism. I was surprised by their communication skills in English and openness to learn and absorb everything they could. Some could think these children and youngsters would be reluctant to other cultures and completely different (and actually opposite) values than the ones they are being taught now; but on the contrary this children are hungry to learn about what is going on in the west, nevertheless they will react to all this changes and fast moving world with a completely different point of view and values that have been taught for centuries with no really big changes.