Tuesday 15 September 2009

Laos: Impressions of Vientiane

I find it hard to believe that Vientiane is a capital. The feeling here is more akin to a sleepy, laid back country town. Non-the-less, capital it is, the seat of government and powerhouse of the country. Vientiane means 'Sandalwood City' and is pronounced Viang Chan. Viang is Lao for 'city' or 'place with walls'; Chan means sandalwood. Not that there is much sign of city walls or sandalwood.....!
I immediately took to the place with its tree-lined boulevards, dozens of Buddhist temples, quaint back streets, wonderful food stalls, coffee houses and topping the list, magnificent views of the mighty Mekong.....



 
The Mekong in late afternoon  sunshine.....

Looking across to Thailand......
  
The incongruous Don Chan Palace Hotel built in 2004

Fisherwoman about her trade,,,,,,,

Bridge leading to Don Chan Island

View from the bridge......

Local store on the island
The French colonial influence is apparent, but not over bearing. The heart of the city is laid out in a simple grid plan, following the bend in the river. There are a number of distinctive colonial-style mansions and administrative buildings, but these are few in numbers. The most notable being the huge beaux-arts style Presidential Palace, originally built as the home of the French- Colonial Govenor.
  
Today the palace is used mainly for ceremonial events

A dilapidated mansion close-by......
Leading from the Presidential Palace is the tree lined wide Boulevard of Lan Xang, Vientiane's Champs Elysees. At the end of which is Vientiane's own 'Arc de Triomphe', the Patuxai. Built during the 1960's, this edifice is dedicated to the people who fought against French Imperialism in the struggle for independence. Ironically the Patuxai was built using American funds. The US having given Laos money to build a new airport, the Laotian government instead used the money to build the monument.
 
 The Patuxai
Unlike her counterpart in Paris,
the Patuxai has four archways
 
The central ceiling above the archways

 
Detail
Corner detail
 
Spiral staircase to the upper level........

 
Buddha image in a passageway

 
Window detail in archway

 
View from atop.......

 
View seen thru grill........

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