Laos: Vientiane - A stroll thru' the "Sandlewood City"

Having lived for a little over a year now in Bangkok, coming to Vientiane is such a contrast and the more I see of the city, the more comfortable I feel here....... as this is , more than likely, to be my new home within the next couple of months.

I start my walk along the great Mekong River, with view across the waters to Thailand. Few vessels ply thru' her waters, but there is a sense of serenity and beauty about the river, that I really like......

Looking along the Mekong towards the city centre.....

"Fish farm"  nearby....

Old river boat.........

River fisherman ......

Unloading supplies

These ferry passengers across the river to Thailand.....

From here, my path takes me to an area overlooking the Dom Chan,

a huge sandbank  that varies in size  with the changing of the river's height.

Here the earth is rich and fertile & good fo growing.....

Riverside allotments are popular with the locals

often under water during the rainy season.....

 

Yours truly.....

Leaving the River Mekong behind, I now head towards the city centre

Entrance to Pha That Luang.

This 'Stupa' is the most important national monument in Laos,

and is both a symbol for the Buddhist faith and Lao sovereignty.....

 From here, I retrace my steps to visit a large gate....

 

The Patuxai

Vientiane's own "Arch of Triumph" that was built in the 1960's

with US purchased cement that had been ear-marked for the

construction of a new airport.......!

Ceiling detail at the apex of the arch

Souvenir stand on the second level....

Spiral staircase to the top...

View from the top of the arch down

Lan Xang Boulevard

Street vendor.....

Statue of King Sisavang Vong 1904 -1959

Immediately behind the statue is a much revered Buddhist temple:

Wat Si Muang and home to the "Lak Meuang" or city pillar

At the entrance to the temple are several 'shops' selling devotions for the faithful:

 

and these 'captured birds that are "bought' by people and

released in the temple grounds for good luck....

The main Temple Hall housing the city pillar

I particular like the exterior 'furnishings' at this temple....

Here are a few-

 

 A little foot weary, I head to find some refreshment...........

Laos; Vientiane - Haw Pha Kaeo

My second stop on my "temple tour" is to Haw Pha Kaeo just a short walk from Wat Si Saket. This was once a royal temple built specifically to house the sacred Emerald Buddha, one of the most revered images in all of Southeast Asia and the symbol of Thailand. The temple was originally built in  1565 by command of King Setthathirat and was his personal place of worship.

The Emerald Buddha remained in situ until 1779 when, following a skirmish with the Siamese, the image was taken and installed in Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok by King Rama I of Siam.  Haw Pha Kaeo stood until 1827 when Vientiane was completed destroyed by Siamese troops.

The Temple stood in ruins for many years until it was finally rebuilt between 1936 and 1942. The restoration being carried out, with French aid, by Prince Souvanna Phouma upon his return to Laos, following his engineering studies in France. According to contemporary studies, the reconstructed Temple followed the original 16th century plan exactly. However Haw Pha Kaeo,  seemingly, resembles more of a 19th century Bangkok-style Hall.

Whatever the case, the Temple is fine piece of architecture and serves today as a museum of Lao Buddhist art, surrounded by a lush landscape garden.........

 

The  Garden entrance to Haw Pha Kaeo

The second terrace of the Ordination Hall

 

Lotus lily carved corner stone

 

Buddha figures line the  colonnade that surrounds the Hall

 

One of the Buddha figures in the colonnade

Photography is prohibited inside the temple.....