Laos - Part 1 (Feb 2005) - photos of sightseeing in Laos on Worldisround

Laos - Part 1 (Feb 2005)

by Yue Li

Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), or Laos, was never in the list of my travel destinations at all until I realized that I couldn't find a suitable place to visit during the long holidays of the last Chinese New Year. Questions like why Laos, what to see in Laos, etc were thrown to me when people around me came to know about the trip. Apparently, I got no answer for them at that point of time as Laos was a country I knew barely anything about. But now, I think they are able to find the answers from my pics here of ... (more)

Chiang Khong, Thailand
This is the entry point to Laos from Thailand. We took the boat here to cross...

Mekong River, the life blood of Laos
Mekong translates in Lao as "Mother of Rivers".

Mekong River
This longest river (more than 4,000km from its source) of South East...

Mekong River
It took us 2 days to cross this mighty river by slow boat from Chiang...

Pak Beng
Majority of the activities in this remote small town, or rather to call it a...

Pak Beng - guesthouse
We put up a night at this guesthouse in Pak Beng. We were so unlucky...

Pak Beng
Top view of Pak Beng dock in the evening.

Pak Beng in the dusk

Tourist boats at Pak Ou dock

Pak Ou Cave as seen from the river
Pak Ou Cave is located in a striking limestone cliff where both Nam Ou River...

Pak Ou Cave - lower cave
The lower cave (smaller) is called Tham Ting.

Interior of Pak Ou lower cave
Buddha images of all shapes and sizes left by devotees in the cave.

More Buddha images in the lower cave

Pak Ou Cave - upper cave
A hike of 100 over stairs from the lower cave will take you to the...

Pak Ou Cave - upper cave
The upper cave (bigger) is called Tham Phum. This is the outside view of the...

Luang Prabang
This ancient royal capital was inscripted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in...

Sunset at Luang Prabang
The shot was taken from Wat Phousi, which is the best place to view sunset at...

Sunset at Luang Prabang from Wat Phousi

Luang Prabang
The old royal palace of Luang Prabang in the evening.

An unpaved road that we went through

View of a minority village

Countryside view
Countryside view on our way to Khuang Si Waterfall.

Khuang Si Waterfall
This multi tiered waterfall is located in a forest which is 29km south...

Gushing water of Khuang Si Waterfall

Khuang Si Waterfall
This pristine waterfall is definitely an ideal place to relax.

Khuang Si Waterfall

Guys, someone is peeping!
On the way to Xieng Khuang, a few of the group members just can't wait...

Fatty mama & her cute little baby
wild boar at minority village

Phonsavanh, the capital of Xieng Khuang
Phonsavanh is famous for 2 reasons. Apart from being the most heavily bombed...

An unknown monument at Phonsavanh

View from inside of the unknown monument

Another unknown monument at Phonsavanh

Lao War Memorial
The memorial was built in 1998 to commemorate the Lao soldiers who...

Vietnamese War Memorial
Together with Lao War Memorial, the Vietnamese War Memorial is perched on a...

Vietnamese War Memorial

Plain of Jars
This enigmatic place is located in Xieng Khuang Province. It refers to the...

Plain of Jars
The jars are ranging from 3 feet to 10 feet in height, and some of...

Plain of Jars
There are about 160 jar sites in Xieng Khuang. However, for safety...

Me in a stone coffin?
The exact function of the jars remain a mystery until today. Local folklore...

Plain of Jars
The only stone jar which was found with lid at Site 1.

Landscape around Plain of Jars

Mekong River in the evening (Vientiane)

Vientiane
A shot at Mekong River just right before sunset.

Sunset at Vientiane (Mekong River)
Vientiane has a stunning riverfront scenery. Visitors to this capital of Laos...

Lao National Cultural Hall at Vientiane

That Dam Stupa (Black Stupa), Vientiane
Built in the 2nd century AD, it is believed that the stupa is the...

Patuxay, the Victory Gate
Straddles at Lane Xang Avenue, this monument is a Laos version of the Arc de...

Patuxay
the imposing wall

Patuxay
Bas-relief of deities on the ceiling of Patuxay.

View of Vientiane fr the top of Patuxay
No photograph taking is allowed on top of the monument actually....

Another "illegal" shot at top of Patuxay

Buddha Park
Located 25km from Vientiane, the park was built in 1958 by a priest by...

Buddha Park
This huge sculpture garden is full of statues of Hindu & Buddhist deities.

Buddha Park
This is the entrance of the giant pumpkin-shaped concrete in the...

Buddha Park
The park is dominated by this immense reclining Buddha.

Buddha Park

Laos's currency - Kip
USD1 is equivalent to about 10,000 kip. One can easily become a...

article published 03/27/2005

Comments

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So THAT's the place I have to go, to become a millionaire?!! thanks a lot for your good photos and interesting commentary! Wish I could go!!
— Eleanor Robb, November 9, 2005

WOW!!!
I guess that sums up my feeling when I view your pictures on Laos! Fascinating. Must go again.
— Jeffrey Mudaliar, June 7, 2005

Its never easy to travel in a country such as Laos I guess, however I think its worth the experience to visit it. Those jar are interesting subjects, I wonder what are they for and when was they made?
— SpiderMan, March 31, 2005

Thanks for sharing, waiting for you part 2 :-P
— stephanie tye, March 30, 2005

wah, stepping on coffin ah, scare lor...nice shots..keep coming.
— Wong, March 30, 2005

i always think Laos is a very secretive place. your travelog and photo show Lao differently. I really wish i can visit Laos one day.
— Erina, March 29, 2005

After watching Astro...
I coincedently watched TV programmes in Pheonix Channel This past Sunday at 10 pm. (The programme's title is "A snap of the Neighbour of China"). It's talking about Vientian in Laos. I got more understanding on the social system in Laos. In this programme show, Laos was acknowleged as one of the most "undeveloped nations". :-) This episod is not yet finished. It's going to be continued...
— WeiKeat, March 27, 2005

Yue Li,

there are many more to come right...nice and beautiful leh...waiting for more.....

rgds

donald.
— simon ng, March 27, 2005

Yeong,

Very nice photo taken. Especially the sunset at Vientiane.
— KG Ooi, March 27, 2005

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