Vientiane
For my previous posts on this adventure, click
http://lynntowin.ca/thailand-and-laos,
http://lynntowin.ca/chiang-mai,
http://lynntowin.ca/luang-prabang-laos
and http://lynntowin.ca/vang-vieng
Wat Sisaket
We drove for a couple of hours on a new highway, built by the Chinese of course, to reach the capital, Vientiane. It sits along the Mekong River, and you can see Thailand on the other side.
We visited Wat Sisaket, the oldest buddhist temple here. It’s the only temple still standing from a war with Siam, now Thailand, in the 1800’s. The temple and grounds are weathered and beaten, but beautiful.
In the gardens are stupas containing the ashes of local devotees of the temple.
We travelled by tuk-tuk within the city, through the streets lined with communist flags. Vientiane is where I felt the most Chinese influence in Laos, because of the communist imagery, huge boulevards, and massive monuments.
COPE
Our next stop was COPE – cooperative orthotic and prosthetic enterprise. We got another dose of information on the bombings in Laos by the US during the war with Vietnam. (I call it the war with Vietnam, not the Vietnam War, since I remember the memorial museum in Vietnam where it is known as the American War).
This charity makes prosthetic legs for victims of the uxo’s, unexploded ordnance.
There are displays showing the reach of the 270 million cluster bombs dropped in the country, although 80 million didn’t explode on impact and continue to cause destruction.
A short film shows the devastation of the US bombs, ongoing efforts to clear the land of uxo’s, and some of the people who have lost body parts due to them.
It’s amazing how the people so drastically affected by the bombs use them to create powerful art.
Vientiane landmarks
We passed the Laotian version of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. This monument was built in the 1960’s, commemorating independence from France in 1949.
A walk around the riverside led me to one of many massive monuments to ancient kings, decorated with gifts brought by locals who worship there.
Since this was the last day of the trip, and most of the group left Vientiane the day after we arrived there, there was only time for a farewell dinner.
Back to Bangkok
Most of us left Vientiane the next day, and most transited through Bangkok on the same afternoon flight. I had to stay at least overnight before flights home, so chose to stay two nights. The taxi from the airport takes an hour each way, so one night would mean no rest.
I used points to pay for a very nice hotel, the Royal Orchid, right on the main Chao Phraya river. The grounds are beautiful, and the view from my room was stunning!
While checking in to the hotel, I heard someone say “Lynn to Win!” It was friends from Regina, now living in Penticton, Kelly and Stacee. What a small world!
After checking in to my room, I headed straight to a nearby street lined with massage places. A woman came out of her shop to offer her services. An hour Thai massage for 300 baht, about $13, or I could have gone to the hotel spa for 2400 baht, or $100. The $13 massage was great!
The next day I took the hotel ferry across the river to the massive ICON shopping mall, with many stories of mostly expensive stores and restaurants.
Back on my side of the river, I walked to the massage street again. I am now popular, and greeted like a friend. I had a pedicure this time. And I went back later for another massage. This one was 90 minutes, and that was rough!
My last mango sticky rice, and pad thai, and singha beer, and that was the end of my Thailand and Laos adventure. The next day very early I boarded the long flight to Vancouver, then home.
