Vientiane

Due to poor planning and the unexpected decision to go to China we had to spend a few days in Vientiane to arrange our China visa. In some ways we were lucky as I got sick (stomach) and stayed close to the room/toilet for most of the time. I'll update this at a later date to so the one night out we had and the friends we met (they were great). Also on the Mekong, while here the land on the other side is Thailand.

The ever present threat of rain, sometimes localized.

Down a small lane we found this door and the unexpected greeting in Italian.

On one of the few days I was feeling well we went to the Buddha park, built by an eccentric who later moved to Thailand to build another, it boast the largest laying Buddha in Laos and over a hundred statues which include among them influences of Hinduism.

This was called, or described to us as, the pumpkin. Going inside you find the lowest region of hell and ascend upwards to heaven. Some statues were missing limbs, others completely missing.

The view from the top was great. A close up of the reclining Buddha.

The view, middle of frame to right is the one singular monk we found wandering the grounds.

Two pictures of the "windows" of the pumpkin. I have an idea of my favorite but would be interested in knowing your opinion.

Another view of the same thing. Incase you missed it the first time.

Buddha.

So I climbed these steps not knowing whether I should but a grounds keeper said it was fine and who am I to argue with a grounds keeper.

The steps gradually grew steeper until each one was like an overhang. Anyway I made to the doorway to find nothing in it.

The base of the structure over grown with moss... I do like geometric forms.

So back to Vientiane at sunset, same location as the first photo and filled with both locals and foreigners.

This is like volleyball and hackysack. The ball is woven rattan. The players play with their feet. The spikes are awesome.