Bangkok to Vientiane, Laos

At the airport in Bangkok, I noticed that there really are many people with the Canadian flag sewn on their backpacks.  I had read in Trips magazine about how everyone in Asia has them on their packs in Asia but they are always Americans. This appeared to ring true.  There was even a ragged looking teen carrying a medium sized disco ball going through customs without much concern. 

Thai Airways transported us to the capital of Laos where we meet our first guide from the travel company.  Mr. Sak had lived in Peoria, IL and Fresno, CA before returning to Vientiane with his family.  His descriptions of any notable landmarks would be immediately followed by 'Yes Yes' or  'Like a pearl'.

Our first stop was Patousay, which is the Victory Monument for Laos.  They used money that the US had sent them to extend their runway to erect this local Arc de Triumph just outside of Pha That Laung Stupa.  We then drove outside the town to Vat Xieng Khuang (Buddha Park).  This park has both Hindu and Buddhist imagery and was built in 1958 by a mystic named Luang Pu.  It proved to be a good stop for me to refresh myself in my college World Religions course by hearing some of the Ramayana stories retold.  We then went back into town to Vat Si Saket and Hophrakeo temples, which are located in the same district as the embassies. (It was here that we noticed the trashcans that had been donated by Canada and are made out of recycled tires.  Canada proved herself as a world leader by bringing garbage receptacles to the world!)  We finished up the day by a trip to Pha That Luang Stupa, which is supposed to contain some sort of bone or hair of Buddha.  This is also the site of one of the largest Buddhist festivals in Laos that occurs in November  the water festival.

Before nightfall, we took a walk along the Mekong River to watch the sunset from the banks.  As the sun went down over the water, we became part of this group of tourists rushing to the banks to take a photo.

Our hotel is the ultra luxurious Novotel but our room is bright blue with paper-thin walls and A/C that is not working.  We had dinner at the hotel from their Christmas Eve buffet and the staff wore fuzzy Santa hats with flashing lights at the tip.  Despite the Christmas trees at every turn and the festive colored ornaments, there was this feeling that Christmas had little to do with even the basal commercialism of the west.  It was more like a requisite costume to be worn to make the tourist feel at home. 

sunset

bangkok : vientiane : laung prabang :
hanoi : halong bay : hue & hoi an :
saigon : phnom pehn : siem reap