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