Laos Memory Lane: Vientiane

A friend had asked me to do a review of my Laos Trip, it has been a year and a half ago but the memory is still very vivid. I found that the most comforting thing about this trip was to have my dad as a travel companion, like the saying “Two heads are better…

Nam Phu Fountain

I went by the water fountain on December 2, 2008.  It's also known as Nam Phu, and I was lucky that the water fountain was turned on because most of the time when I walked passed, there was no water.   I believed I’m not the only one that feel this way, look at this little…

The New Sim at Wat Chan

I visited Wat Chan on December 3, 2008 and the new sim is not completed yet, might be completed by Lao New Year at the earliest, if not then it should be completed in time for the 25th SEA Games that Laos is hosting in December 2009. Wat Chan, also known as Wat Chanthaburi was…

Wat Sisaket, the Siamese Style of Buddhist Architecture

I visited Wat Sisaket right after Hor Phra Keo because it’s across the street from it, and when I got there, it was 30 minutes before closing time, and sadly I didn’t get to take as many photos as I like. According to wikipedia, Wat Sisaket was built in 1818 on the orders of King…

Hor Phra Keo, a Place That Once Housed the Emerald Buddha

I visited Hor Phra Keo on November 17, 2008.  It was previously the ancient temple, Hor Phra Keo was built in 1565 AD (2108 BE) by the great King Xaisetthathirath, the Lao Lanexang Kingdom (also known as Land of a million elephants) to house the Emerald Buddha 1556-1778.  It was once used as the King…

Swinging Vientiane

Video by Rafael, street scenes in Vientiane. Note from Ginger:  This is what I call Lao time, life is at a slower pace…I miss Laos already.  This is a slow-mow over cranking the EX-1.

The river on top

Video by Rafael, Time-lapse of clouds shoot in Vientiane during the last rainy season. Note from Ginger:  When I got to Laos on November 7, 2008, it was extremely hot, but I noticed that the clouds are very pretty, more so than anywhere I've seen.  This video has captured those beautiful images of clouds in…

Buddha Park the Spirit City

I find this place very fascinating, just the name of the place called Buddha Park should give me the feeling of being in a serene oasis, and some comforting feeling because I‘m in a holy place, but yet my feeling is totally the opposite. According to Wikipedia, a Buddha Park, also known as Xieng Khuan…

At Night by the Mekong River

The most that I could remember from my childhood memory was the evening bath in the Mekong River near Parkse area.  These photos are in Vientiane at Don Chan Beach. We were staying at Paksan with my aunt the night of our Baci Ceremony, and was thinking about staying there for another night before heading…

Wat Simuang and the Guardian of the City

We didn't get to visit Wat Simuang the first time we were in Laos due to our short stay in Vientiane, and when we returned the second time, it fell on December 2, 2008, which was a Lao National Day, and many Lao local worshipers were there to worship. There are many varieties of flowers…

Wat Phra That Phoun in Vientiane

Wat Phra That Phoun is on Avenue Lane Xang near Patuxay Monument.  It has a beautiful arch entrance of Naga, and sitting on top is a Buddha with its 7 pronged head spreading over the Buddha’s head as a cover.  The Naga is a snake like animal of Hindu lore, and according to legend, the…

Patuxay Monument Vientiane’s Own Arc de Triomphe

I finally get to visit Patuxay on November 10, 2008, the day before we visited Boun That Luang, my dad and I took the local bus from Paksan into Vientiane for a day, it was our first time being on a local bus by ourselves in Laos and it cost 25,000 kips ($2.95) per person,…