December 30, 2012 @ Vientiane


After 12 hours we finally arrived!

Vientiane Northerns Domestic and International Bus Station

Breakfast

Vientiane Travellers House

Buddha Park

A sculpture park located 25 km southeast from Vientiane

The reclining Buddha is especially impressive

A bizarre outdoor collection of huge concrete sculptures of Buddhist & Hindu deities

Built in 1958 by mystic Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat

Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat was a priest-shaman who integrated Hinduism and Buddhism

In 1978 he established a similar but more impressive park across the river in Nong Khai, Thailand

These sculptures were presumably cast by unskilled workers under the supervision of Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat

The name Xieng Khuan means Spirit City

The statues are made of reinforced concrete and are ornate

There are sculptures of humans, gods, animals, and demons

The statues appear to be centuries old, though they are not

There are numerous sculptures of Buddha

Characters of Buddhist beliefs like Avalokitesvara

Characters of Hindu lore, including Shiva, Vishnu, and Arjuna

Really steep stair from the tower

One notable sculpture resembles a giant pumpkin

Visitors can enter through an opening which is a mouth of a 3-metre-tall demon head

It has three stories representing three levels - Hell, Earth and Heaven

Pha That Luang

The national symbol and most important religious monument of the country

That Luang is a three-layered gilded stupa

The current version dates from 1566 although it has been renovated numerous times since then

King Jayavarman VII of the Khmer Empire

National Assembly

National Assembly

National Assembly

Pretty ceiling

Buddha @ National Assembly

Nong Sa Phang Lenh Park

Nong Sa Phang Lenh Park from National Assembly

Pha that Luang from National Assembly

National Assembly

National Assembly

National Assembly

Wat That Luang Neua

Beautiful architecture

Bamboo case for sticky rice

Wat That Luang Tai

Reclining Buddha seem quite popular in Laos

Interesting drawing to display in a Buddha temple

Interesting drawing to display in a Buddha temple

A lot of drawings

Communist looking building

Patuxay Park

Government Office

Patuxai

Beautiful ceiling @ Patuxai

Beautiful ceiling @ Patuxai

Me @ Patuxai

AKA Victory Gate

Along Avenue Lane Xang

Soooo cheap!

That Dam

No HK!

Wine cellular

Lao National Cultural Hall

Room @ Vientiane Traveller House

Restaurants setup along Francois Ngin Road @ Night

Food stalls @ Ban Anou night Market

Ban Anou Night Market

Restaurant along Francois Ngin Road

Grilled fish

Fried spring roll

Grilled prawn

Salana Boutique Hotel

Talk about creative

Most massage places close at 10pm, this one knows how to do business


That Luang was once flanked by temples at all four sides