Vientiane Laos

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Vientiane Laos: Wat Mixil near the river had this attractive structure on the grounds - another view.

Vientiane Laos: That Dam is an ancient stupa. The USA Embassy is in the adjacent block. (10 of 44)

Vientiane Laos: Warrior statue near the Three Elephants.

Vientiane Laos: With all the walking I do I sometimes feel like an ad for Johnny Walker whiskey. This sign sits in front of the night club in the Hotel Royal. The place stood empty every time I checked it.

Vientiane Laos: Entrance to the Hotel Royal. My room is second from the end and second from the top of the hotel: room 417.

Vientiane Laos: Northeast entrance of Patuxal monument in the morning.

Vientiane Laos: Details of the corner dragon/serpent features on most temples in Laos.

Vientiane Laos: One of the structures inside the grounds of Wat That Fune near the hotel and Patuxal monument.

Vientiane Laos: Entrance gate to Wat That Fune near the hotel and Patuxal monument.

Vientiane Laos: Typical scene at the Morning Market.

Vientiane Laos: This is the shuttle bus that takes travelers across the Friendship Bridge connecting Laos and Thailand near Vientiane.

Vientiane Laos: The Three Elephant statue near the Novotel Hotel.

29 January 2003

Hello from Vientiane Laos.

Arriving by twin turbo-prop YI-7 Chinese built aircraft from Luang Prabang and the Field of Jars, I spent four nights in the $36 Royal Hotel located along the main boulevard connecting the "Arch de Triumph" with the Presidential Palace some half kilometer distant here in the main part of this capital city. The $47 flight makes travel within the country very affordable. At the moment the streets are under renovation and access to the hotel is dusty and problematic. Perhaps that is why this luxury hotel is offering rooms at such low rates. On one of my walks I visited a Buddhist monastery and had a lively conversation with several of the young monks who let me know life for their order is very strict and difficult. Most will leave the order when they graduate from college. "People treat monks nicer than ordinary guys," something one of the young fellows supported with his stories of treatment when he goes home and is "out of uniform." "But, life in the order is hard. We must be very good all the time!" he lamented.

On the fifth day I started south, first crossing the Mekong River over the Friendship Bridge that separates Laos from Thailand.

Peace,
Fred Bellomy

Vientiane Laos: Wat Mixil near the river is where I met brother Sombets (on the right in the picture) and two of his friends. Now twenty-three he has been a monk for eleven years. When asked if he would ever leave, he said he might one day. "We have to be very good to remain here." he told me with humor. We got to talking when the group took an interest in my camera. He speaks excellent English and confirmed that people treat monks "more kindly," something that becomes obvious on the rare occasions when he has gone out in public without his robes.

Vientiane Laos: Shoppers at the Morning Market area.

Vientiane Laos: Entrance to the Hotel Royal is off a road being resurfaced. Once the road work is complete it will be a prime venue in Vientiane... and the rates no doubt will be dramatically increased from the current bargain of $36 per night. Comparable hotels were getting twice that.

Vientiane Laos: Sign in front of my hotel.

Vientiane Laos: The Hotel Royal where I stayed. Notice the road passing it is still dirt.

Vientiane Laos: Entrance to the Hotel Royal sits right on the road construction site, dusty, noisy...

Vientiane Laos: Patuxal is a monument commemorating some ancient battle. It looks a lot like the Arch of Triumph in Paris. This is a view from the west at sunset.

Vientiane Laos: Entrance gate to Wat That Fune near the hotel and Patuxal monument.

Vientiane Laos: Some of the vendors having their breakfast at the Morning Market before the day's work begins.

Vientiane Laos: After you buy a screw driver you can pick up a loaf of bread at the adjacent stall.

Vientiane Laos: Some of the young monks seem a bit materialistic. Here a group shops and buys music CDs. They are not supposed to own anything, so I have no idea what they will do with their purchases. Many of the monks are still in elementary school and I observed some behaving like teenagers anywhere... well behaved teenagers...

Vientiane Laos: Patuxal is a monument commemorating some ancient battle. Southwest side in the afternoon.

Vientiane Laos: Wat Mixil near the river had this attractive structure on the grounds.

Vientiane Laos: Wat Mixil near the river is pretty much like all the others in Laos. When you've seen one Wat, you've seen kilo-wats.

Vientiane Laos: Some of the stuff being sold at the main market area.

Vientiane Laos: That Dam is an ancient stupa. The USA Embassy is in the adjacent block.

Vientiane Laos: Closer shot of the stuff being sold at the main market area. The green bundles are banana leaves used in cooking and as package wrappers.

Vientiane Laos: The Three Elephant statue near the Novotel Hotel.

Vientiane Laos: That Dam is an ancient stupa. The USA Embassy is in the adjacent block.

Vientiane Laos: A major street building operation is underway directly in front of the hotel I chose, Hotel Royal. The mess probably accounts for the $36 room rate for this first class hotel. Others I checked ran a lot more. There were other more modest guest house accommodations for less than half my hotel's rate.

Vientiane Laos: Close-up shot of the northeast entrance in the morning of Patuxal monument.

Vientiane Laos: Northeast entrance of Patuxal monument in the morning.

Vientiane Laos: Patuxal is a monument commemorating some ancient battle. It looks a lot like the Arch de Triumph in Paris.

Vientiane Laos: Entrance gate to Wat That Fune near the hotel and Patuxal monument.

Vientiane Laos: Devotional offerings being sold at the Morning Market.

Vientiane Laos: Typical scene at the Morning Market.

Vientiane Laos: The banana leaf wrapped packages contain a rice dish (take out) and the colorful packages are sugar coated fruits, coconut, etc.

Vientiane Laos: The Coca Restaurant is the only place in town that offers First World quality food in a sanitary environment as best I could determine. I took all my meals there.