 |
| Curtain calls to commune with the old Laos culture |
hasing culture is our main agenda for today’s Vientiane sightseeing and enrichment.
Patience was all it takes for the next city bus ride taking us to the 2 fabled spots in the city: Pattuxai and That Luang.
 |
The glitzy double-decker in the hotel parking
|
 |
| Texts in Pasa Lao in public posting |
 |
| Another temple slowly coming to view |
From hotel parking, a double-decker bus was an eye-catcher, perhaps bringing more tourists to the hotels. From there, we decided to walk the lengths of the opposite direction of the road this time passing by the Philippine Embassy and an event venue where once President Duterte visited to meet the local Pinoy OFWs. It’s like a more than 100 footsteps and a 2 km walk before reaching the main thoroughfare where the bus stop finally emerged not without seeing a temple.
 |
A public bus in Laos is left handed
|
 |
A surprise selfie with a lady farang over venerable stupa at That Luang
|
 |
| Architectural grandeur in a nearby temple |
 |
| A hallmark grandeur of temple allure |
We first alighted to the fortress in That Luang where the pagodas and temples came with a skyrocketing view. The architectural propensity applied was very majestic inspiring awe and feeding of marvel so amazingly stirring. There’s an old tale saying that inside the stupa once lies the remains of Gautama Buddha and the historical sacredness of the place was giving me chills.
 |
Impeccable details applied on each piece of temple post
|
 |
| The sleeping giant Suan Luang Buddha is overwhelmingly a splendid piece of relic |
 |
| Communion with Buddhas is a threshold to the Buddhism awakening |
 |
Well-crafted interiors and decors in one temple hallway
|
There’s a giant larger-than-life sleeping Buddha giving a sense of reverie to this old belief that is Buddhism. And a surprise catch of a selfie with another foreign snooper. In summing up this dreamy confinement, it’s totally a journey of sensibilities to this unforgotten beauty and discovery of humanity.
 |
Mukkin the local restaurant
|
 |
| Noodles with Chinese flavor |
 |
| Stir-fried veggies |
 |
| Ice cream to subdue the heat |
 |
Mukkin afternoon dining with the locals is like a time travel experience
|
From one street corner, we took a lunch break in one of its familiar restaurants named Mukkin. After trying out their local dishes and treats with a Chinese touch, in just a tick of a moment I found myself in a setting like an old format seeing locals wearing attire in retro fashion and students in their usual classic get-ups as though I was being taken to Laos of the olden days. Strangeness crept in as we finished the round of noodles and ice cream. We boarded a bus taking our thirsts for more Laos eccentricity.
 |
Pattuxai neighboring houses look abandoned
|
 |
Friendship and cooperation plaque for China and Laos
|
 |
Pattuxay Park for ice breaker exploration
|
Even more compelling was the Patuxai district traversing its parks featuring relaxing spaces, landscapes, pocketed gardens, and sporadic temples all obviously maintained reminding me that Buddhism has indeed flourished here apart from a series of neighborhood temples and shrines.
 |
The ceiling interiors of the Victory Monument
|
 |
| The government palace within striking distance |
 |
| Souvenir shops with exotic items inside the monument |
 |
| Memorabilia are precious finds inside the monument |
This time Victory Monument from the alluring distance with the convergence of tourists and timewasters. Clearly, a monumental relic standing out as a tribute to the independence of the Laos Republic as a gift by the Peoples Republic of China, closing into this landmark imparts the sense of joining to honor some people’s lives who were sacrificed to achieve this state. A salute in all its glory is what overflows once you enter and climb the stairs up to what lies inside the aged grandeur. From the heights, the 360 degrees view of Laos is totally spellbinding, and riveting. Going to downstairs, the tapestry of souvenirs is downright fascinating,
 |
Victory Monument a shining symbol of Laos republic
|
 |
360 view of Vientiane from the monument deck
|
Needless to say, those shrines and temple encounters really caught the essence that no words need to describe feeding one’s spirit with respect, and hope that transcends race and generations.
 |
| As if time stops, and so the captured shot |
