 |
| Romance with the fabled Mekong river |
ekong river spoke to me in volumes with its thousand tales and messages of enlightenment.
This morning as the sun was lifting up, I came by foot to the banks tracing my steps in the kilometer strip to fill myself with wonderment about the famous river.
 |
Vegetations and foliage run in Mekong riverbank
|
 |
| Some flattening works of the riverbank |
From my side is Vientiane and from the other side is part of Thailand. There’s a statue that stood by in testament to the river’s role in the history of Laos. There’s the consumption of history and sentimentality before giving my whispered goodbyes to the air in respect of the river system.
 |
| Structures are built on reclaimed lands on the banks of the river |
The river is also home to a species of fish called pangasius or what is popularly called cream dory. The river runs to countries of Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar sustaining communities and villages living near the river bank and a passageway that borders Thailand to the rest of the northeast region.
 |
| Parks are well-maintained for better functionality |
 |
| A plaque acknowledging the project proponents |
 |
| Well-paved and green patched park series await sojourners |
Promenading along the banks was such a recollecting affair turning the pages of civilization that the river cradled for centuries. The river starts in China passing the countries of Cambodia, and Vietnam, and ends in Laos and Thailand. The Mekong is the birthright of old cultures settling within its banks and has seen the passing of so many events and shifting of orders along. I must say that the river binds these landlocked ASEAN countries for so long as they share both borders and blessings from the river.
 |
Elephant deities are temple fixtures
|
 |
| A tuk-tuk awaits passengers in what seem to be deserted streets |
 |
| The monk seems invisible and untouchable in Vientiane street |
 |
| Vientiane's cultural center |
More monuments and tributes came by along the river walk ending among the park with patches of greens and some small stalls turning active by nightfall for the night market. Time to trace my way into downtown Vientiane to assess its daytime arrangement. In one of the temples, an elephant could be a deity or a symbol to worshippers. I found an assembly of monks both old and young making rounds on the street and turning to passersby for a little blessing after whispered prayers. I even saw some white farangs who have converted to Buddhism and proudly walking in monk attire.
 |
| A chic cafe is the best place of interaction in Vientiane |
Back to the hotel, we met the last visitor in a nearby coffee shop clocking the remaining minutes before our check out. We picked the 4 pm bus departure heading to Udon Thani. The bus encircled a route that gave us the final look of the river that has blessed so many lives whispering something as if a river faerie trying to reach me and giving lessons of Laos history to guide me on the path of my own destiny.
