Laos - Vientiane

Although it is the capital city of Laos, Vientiane is nothing like the crowded, chaotic South-East Asian cities that most people are familiar with. It is a laid back, relaxed sort of place.

One of the former Kings greets you on the road from the airport into the city. You don't hear too much about the Kings these days; they don't quite fit the politics of modern Laos.

The French were in Laos from the late 19th Century until the middle of the 20 Century and many streets have French names. Patuxai (the Victory Gate) is Laos version of the Arc De Triomphe. To annoy the French it is just a little bit higher than theirs!

There are the usual array of Wat such as the two below. 

 

Vientiane stands on the Mekong River with Thailand on the other bank, convenient for Thai TV Soaps (much loved by the Lao) and being able to use your Thai Mobile Phone!

You don't need to travel far before you are back in the countryside. The photo of this rural Wat is mainly to show the scaffolding on the building work - it is bamboo.

The photo below is a popular waterhole to cool down on those hot Laos days. There wasn't a lot of water but everyone seemed to be having fun.

Rice is the main crop throughout all of Asia and the rice fields are not only incredibly important and an integral part of Lao life, they are also very beautiful.

Laos - Luang Prabang Part 2

Luang Prabang is surrounded by lots of natural beauty, including mountains, caves and waterfalls.

Pak Ou Cave is carved out of the rock face and is reached by a boat trip up the Mekong. It is an amazing spot in itself but when you get inside you get quite a surprise.

The Cave is full of Buddhas, in fact there are about 2500 of them in the lower cave.

The trip on the Mekong is also a highlight. The high speed boat trip was certainly quite an adrenaline rush.

The mountains and the abundant water means lots of waterfalls

Kuang Si Waterfall is a spectacular spot, with its big drop and its amazingly coloured water, a result of the limestone rocks it cuts through.

Laos - Luang Prabang Part 1

In the beautiful mountains of northern Laos is the charming town of Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang is situated on a small piece of land between the mighty Mekong and the smaller Khan rivers and is World Heritage Listed. UNESCO described the town as "an outstanding example of the fusion of traditional architecture and Lao urban structures with those built by the European colonial authorities in the 19th and 20th centuries. Its unique, remarkably well-preserved townscape illustrates a key stage in the blending of these two distinct cultural traditions."

A walk up to the top of Phou Si gives you a panoramic view of the area.

The next two photos show Phou Si and the waterfront from a boat on the Mekong

 

Three monks crossing the junction of the Mekong and the Khan Rivers

The town has become a very popular tourist destination with its mixture of French Colonial buildings and its many, many Wats.

The markets are central to life in Laos. The food is fresh, the smells are strong and it is a place to meet and have a chat. Here is one of the markets just getting going for the day.

The Wats are a different style to those in Thailand. The photos that follow give you a selection of the Wats in Luang Prabang.

 

Reference:

United Nations. "Town of Luang Prabang." UNESCO/WHC. 1992-2010. 4th December 2010. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/479

Chiang Rai

The northern part of Thailand is a popular getaway, with the cooler temperatures and the slower pace very appealing. Chiang Rai is an hour or so from the famous Golden Triangle where Thailand, Burma and Laos meet.

One of the most important places in the city is Wat Phra Kaew. Thais believe this was the original home of the Emerald Buddha, now found in a temple of the same name in Bangkok. The Buddha spent a long time in Laos and they tell you that it was actually stolen from them.

Chiang Rai is a small city but quite charming. The clock tower is certainly unique as you can see.

There are some impressive old buildings like the one below.

We passed by a procession that was in honour of some of new Monks which was quite colourful and loud.

A recent addition to Chiang Rai is the White Temple, Wat Rong Khun. It was built by a local artist, starting in 1998. It is certainly different to your usual Thai temples.

This is another Wat in the same complex.

One of the nice things coming from Bangkok is the green and the mountains.

It was a bit of a walk but the impressive waterfall, Namtok Khun Kon, with a 70m drop, made it worthwhile.

The Condo Part 2

I do like my little condo.

This is the corridor down to my unit, with both the pool and the gym on this level.

This is what you see when you step in the front door. You enter the living area and the bedroom is in the distance.

From another angle you see the TV and the door into the kitchen

This is looking from in the bedroom back to the living area.

The bedroom has a nice leafy outlook and a big comfortable bed.

You can close off the bedroom from the living room with the sliding screen doors you see below.

The kitchen works well and in typical Thai style the washing machine is out on the balcony.

With food on the soi so cheap the kitchen doesn't get that much use!