Yva and Peter heading east: March 2007

Thursday, March 29, 2007

In and around Vientiane

That Luang - holiest Buddhist monument in Laos and a symbol of national independence (included in the updated national emblem, where it replaced the hammer and sickle)

Rows of Buddhas in Wat Sisaket

Bronze Buddha in the position of Subduing Mara (the goddess of evil)http://lotussculpture.com/mudras.htm

Wat Sisaket - a beautiful building built in 1818 with terracotta floor tiles, weathered roof and a glowing shade of caramel but is in bad need of restoration

Wat Xieng Khuan - Garden of the Buddhas

A bizzare park built in the 50s by a "priest-monk-guru-sage-artist" Luang Pu Bunleua Sulihat which contains statues of Visnu, Buddha, Siva and other deities. After he left Laos (for political reasons or just because he was weird) the monk moved to Thailand and built another park there Wat Khaek, another must see!

Reclining and other Buddhas

Never losing his manners!

And a big kiss to all!

How is it on the road in Lao (and how can it be)

Given - many people would never consider going to Lao. Why? Bumpy long bus rides, bad accommodation, funny food,...
This scares away many potential Lao travelers, and that is good because there are enough already :)
What people who never go on such a trip underestimate is the leverage that we have through using Euro or USD.
Today - first of all it was a very successful day with fabulous sight seeing - we ended up in the most expensive and arguably the most beautiful pool in Vientiane, having beer and sandwiches served by very friendly Lao people who did not only go the extra mile but run it with the prospect of us spending an average monthly Lao salary (at lest a rural one).
Everybody who knows me knows that I am stingy as hell and that all the benefit goes to my spoiled travel companion :)
But I have to say I like it. After all it is not such a bad idea be posh every now and then .

Miscellaneous

Peter's mystery head style revealed, thank you for all your contributions, Stuart I think you were the closest but forgot the little beard on the chin :)

Peter celebrating his birthday in a temple of the Happy Buddha

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Luang Prabang

After spending a couple of beautiful days up in the very North of Laos (Luang Nam Tha - nice little town we were happy to reach after a six hour bus ride, yes the bus was totally packed; Udomxai - dusty crossroad town where Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai merchants cross and Nong Khiaw - a pretty and idyllic town on the river Nam) we came down on a beautiful boat ride (kind of cold though because it started to rain...) on the river Nam, where people still wash gold in very traditional ways, to a very special place - Luang Prabang.
Its the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Thousand Elephants, later on became a refuge for bored French colonialists, who built beautiful villas on the banks of the great Mekong. Its situated between two big rivers and majestic mountains surround it.
The town has a strange Mediterranean flare, small shady streets, beautiful cafes, traditional wooden Lao houses and colonial villas. There is art galleries, silk shops, silver design, beauty wherever you look. And among this hundreds of temples (wats) competing for your attention friendly but shy monks.

Downside: this place is flooooooded with all kinds of strange co-tourists;)