Laos: Vientiane - Cherry's Diary: Our new home

Finally my half-sister Lily & I have a new home. A new home far from Bangkok. A new home in another country called Laos in the capital city of Vientiane. A new home surrounded by trees and plants & compared to Bangkok, this is a dream come true. We have our very own house, which is roomy & quite comfortable for our needs. We have a large garden to play in and explore and being surrounded by high walls a very safe place, too. ..... although, given the opportunity we both love to escape and roam in the quite Soi (street) outside and explore the Buddhist temple opposite. The young monks are very friendly and do not mind us playing around. Every morning, after a quick breakfast, Nigel takes me for a walk along the banks of the mighty River Mekong. At the moment, Lily is still too young to enjoy this walk, really, I think, she hates being on the lead. I like it, as I am always close to my master, but still able to explore and I have made a number of doggy friends too..... Life is just perfect:

The main house

This is our new house, which is roomy but quite cosy & is connected to the main house

Given the opportunity we do like to sit in comfort in the Main House watching the TV or just falling asleep.....

That's me

& this is my half- sister, Lily

The garden is a a great place to explore and has many interesting plants:

A pretty blossom tree

and produces Carambola or Star Fruit

We have our own large Mango tree

a couple of delicious Yellow Coconut palms

and a number of Banana Plants, too....

Here are the gates to the property from the quiet Soi

& here am I on guard duty.......

View of the gates to our home from the Buddhist temple

The temple from the front....

The Temple Bell-Tower has many stone carved animals in front...



Here are a couple of pictures, taken on my walk along the Mekong River, close-by
to home.

A Fish farm

A fisherman with traditional fishing net...

Young fisherman

Thailand: Nong Khai - Gateway to Laos

I have recently spent eight days in Nong Khai, a pleasant "backwater" in the North-Eastern part of Thailand. Lying on the Mekong River, the town is the gateway to Laos.

The Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge.
This two lane road bridge with single track railway in the centre
straddles the River Mekong and was opened in April 1994.
The correct name for the bridge is really "The First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge",
as a second, more recent bridge, has been built further down stream.
The cost was about US$30 million and was funded by the Australian government
as a development aid for Laos

There is more to Nong Khai, though, than just a bridge linking two countries.....
The town, though small, is very attractive with many Buddhist Temples, a lively covered street market, a riverside promenade with sweeping views of the river and restaurants with terraces facing the broadwalk.

Part of the riverside promenade

At the far end of the promenade is the river boat station and ferry stop for goods destined for Laos, that are not transported by road. From early morning to late afternoon, the jetty is a thriving place with a great array of goods, ranging from rugs, pottery and cookware to washing machines, tv's and furniture.....

On the opposite bank to the river station is the Laos equivalent,
although never seemingly as hectic.......

Further along is this fish-farm

Set all along the promenade are these attractive billboards displaying tourist maps of the town and surrounding area. Very French........!!

In the middle of the River Mekong is this ruined chedi, "Phra That Klang Nam", and is visible only during the dry season when the river waters lower by some 13m.... The chedi, dating back to between the 15th and 17th centuries, slipped down the embankment in 1847 and continues to slide; being near the middle of the river, now.
Once the top of the chedi is visible in the dry season, coloured flags are fastened to the top.....

Phra That Nong Khai appears above the river waters

On the original site of the chedi stands a replica, known as "Phra That La Nong"

The attractive Provincial Offices

Close-by is the former Provincial Governor's mansion, now a museum

On the main road out of town is the City pillar

Set behind the riverside promenade and encompassing a couple of streets is the interesting covered market of Sadet

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...........