Tag: #laos

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Luang Prabang – The Old Capital of Laos

Getting there means riding the new Lao/Chinese railway fast train which says it’s supposed to be running at 127 km/h. But getting on the train is a complete mess. First you have to line up to get all your documents checked including a vaccination certificate, ID card (passport) and ticket. Then you have to sit and wait one hour until they tell you to line up again to check tickets to get to the platform. Of course the tickets are checked again once you get to your seat. The system was developed by the Chinese and implemented by Lao authorities. The ride was nice.

Why not? Good place to eat actually
very tasty rice soup for breakfast, while finding love at this port
Is this a really good selling point for these sarong?
Contemplating the meaning of cryptocurrency
A big boat for small fish
A nice view of the Mekong (Nam Kong)
Why not try out a Reuben sandwich made in Laos? It was very tasty
my friend had a taco salad
map of the temples on the other side of the river
On the ferry
Kids playing by the ferry landing
The only way to get to this side of the river is by small ferry
Someone threatened to throw me in the river
Nice view from the opposite side of the river looking at the town
Old stupas
Dinner cruises on the river
On the right you see Lao avocados
Nighttime overlooking the night market and the royal temple
Kids riding an electric motorcycle on the left, made in China of course
The founding king of modern Laos and a monk guide
Quite a few western pastry shops in town
our lunch restaurant
local SOMTAM (spicy papaya salad) is delicious
Takes me back to the late 60s
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Vientiane, Laos in the Summer

reclining Buddha in WAT THAT LUANG TAI

Leaving Thailand from Nong Khai was just a 10 minute taxi ride from the hotel. With a departure stamp and a bus ticket of $1US I rode to the Lao Immigration office to get my visa on arrival for 1,700 Baht (I understand there is a surcharge on this day I entered, Saturday). From there to the hotel and around town.

did you know that Thailand invaded Laos? Did you know that a large part of Laos was given by the French to Thailand? Did you know that Lao and Thai languages are very similar?

take a Duk Duk and remember to negotiate the price

The Emerald Buddha Museum

this museum really commemorates the emerald Buddha which was stolen by Siam (Thailand) and placed in wat PraKeou in Bangkok. Some of the artifacts here are those which went along with the temple which was destroyed.

friendly Naga
original doors

Pra Bang

Wat Sisaket

this is the only temple which was not burned by the invading Siam army.

That Dam

Michai

Wat Phra That Luang

WAT = Temple PHRA = monk or buddha image (in Lao language PHRA also is KUBA) THAT = stupah LUANG = Grand

ordination hall (PATA SIMA)
DHAMMA assembly hall
THiS STUPA THE ORIGINAL WAS BUILT IN THE 3 RD CENTURY AND ESTABLISHED THE MUANG VIENTIANE IN THE SAME TIME. THE STUPA FOR THE CONTAINS SOME BONE OF THE LORD BUDDHA. THE ORIGINAL WAS A SMAIL STUPA MADE BY STONE DURING THE REIN OF THE CREAT KING XAYSETHATHIRATH IN 16 CENTURY AFTER THE KINGDOM WAS MOVED FROM LUANGPHRABANG TO VENTIANE IN 1560 A D. AND IN 1566 A D THE KING ENLARGED THE PHRATHA LUANG AS WE SEE NOW.
KING XAYSETHATHIRATH
Main Hall for meeting and offering alms