Trip to Lao(3)

Visit Ancient Places in Vientian

Good morning Lao !

We got up early ,had breakfast and then went to whole day trip ...

Vientiane ,this name of city in Lao means "City of Sandalwood" ,which is derived from Pali language.
This city was established as the capital of the Lane Xang Kingdom during the reign of King Sayasetthathirath,
who moved the capital from Luang Prabang in 1560.The city's full name was Phra Nakhorn Chanthabouly
Sisattanak Khanahood Outtama Rajathany.

The morning in Lao was peaceful ,people get up early and gave foods to monks. There were not much vehicles. We reached the center point of Vientiane which is biggest department store in the city called
Talad Chao means morning market. The transportation in Vientiene is like this....

Wat Prakaew (Emerald Buddha )

Then we reached the first temple and most important one .Wat Prakaew ( Emerald Buddha ) and

Phra Xekkham ( Golden Buddha ) images were relocated from Chiangmai city to Vientiane in 1566.

King Sayasetthathiraj oversaw the renovation of That Luang Stupa and the construction of Phra

That Phanom shrine,in present day Thailand, and the Phra That Sikhottabong Stupa in Thakhek.

You can see the oldest style of craving in the wall but still don't colorful it.

Trip to Lao (2)

Morning of  New Year's 2010's coming....

We got up early and prepared small luggages for one day trip.Today we will enter the border to Lao.
After fast breafast then we drove a van and left it to some place near by which took care our van for
one night but charge around US $ 5:-/day. Well, it's safe and secure enough also inside building,that
preferable too.

Actually there are so many local agents who arrange temperary boder pass for travellers, they charge
around US $ 5 :-/head for 3 days-2 nights stayed but we agreed to enter by ourselves cause use our own passports can stay in Lao for 30 days without visa for Thai people but for foreigner should be use visa
for apply at Lao (visa on arrival),can stay in Lao 30 days with pay fee at US $ 30:-,if extend stayed they
will charge US $ 2:-/day.

First we went to the railway station,heard that the train will reach the station around 09.30 am then take
around 15 minutes to one station in Lao but not Vientain ( that we have to change the bus again).
We attended to wait but the staffs their informed later that the train will late arrival at 10.00 or 11.00 am
time,not sure.. better we can go directly.

From the railway station ,we use a local taxi took around 5 minutes reached the border.

Around 09.00 am we reached the border and did process,actually it didn't take much time but still more
people during public holidays like new year so a little bit took time for queue-up.There were buses from
the border every 5 miniutes took us passed the bridge to Lao charge fews.

Then we reach Lao ....

Trip to Lao (1)

Hi my friends...Come with me.. To visit Lao .. the peaceful land !

The end of year was nearly gone and New Year 2010 should be run to me soon....
We were packing again for travel to Lao country which is border to Thailand in northeastern area.
We left home by van early morning of Dec 31,2009 and reach Nongkhai province late afternoon.
This province is the border of Thai which we can cross Khong river by a bridge to Lao easier but
tonight we will take a rest here and will enter to Lao by tomorrow.

Nomally,the night in Nongkhai is quiet,it is not a big province but during high season or long weekend there
are many foriegners stay in hotels for the next day then pass to Lao.

So, the ending year of 2009 was a little bit brighten up with lighting along the main road, Some open-aircon
restaurants were crowded. Along the main road still heared of radio songs and somes were singing karaoke.
Hmm... at least the end of the year was not quiet alls ...I thought....

 

Famous open-air restauant in Nongkhai, so many tables provided.

See ! The favarite dessert in Nongkhai is Chrspy pancake ,very delicious but why Indian dessert style more here ?

Phnom Bakheng (9)

Then today we will see sunset at Phnom Bakheng ....

Phnom Bakheng is a temple located on the top of small mountain which height around 70 meters, this temple was built since 907-928 PC spent 21 years till finished in Jayavaraman V. Architecture likes pyramid and was first used for religion ceremony.

Down from this temple you can see view for the kingdom view surround,sit and wait till sunset... so beautiful.

Darkness slowly came... around the place seemed quiet ,only wind blew to my hair ,felt so lonely deeply

at that moment.

We left history with passed time ,remembrance is only shone always in my mind...

Ta Prohm Temple (8)

Jayavarman VII acceded to the throne in 1181 and immidiately began to reign with vigor from his new capital of Angkor Thom.He sought to use Buddhism to unify the kingdom, and he had many temples built along the royal roads. Within and in close proximity to the capital are such temple ruins as Bayon, Ta Prohm is one of

that. This temple was discovered in the midst of the jungle,untouched since it was abandoned.
Massive tree roots, like huge serpents,crawl over the roof and walls, testimony to the amazing life force of the jungle.
Looking at these ancient ruins,one cann't help but be impressed by the power of nature and the weight of history.

                                               

A heap of stones in the central courtyard of Ta Prohm,surrrounded by the walls of a gallery.

Beautifully stylized images of devatas are sculpted in the panels between the false windows lining the gallery.

A banyan tree growing over the entry to a gllery leading to a sanctuary tower(at right ).

No restoration efforts have been undertaken at Ta Prohm ,and it  remains today just as it was when discovered in the jungle.

Bayon Temple (7)

Bayon Temple is one of the building in Angkor Thom city...
This temple has fifty-four towers with faces of avalokitashvara carved on four sides. It is built as a pyramid,gradually rising to the central santuary,forthy-five meters high.

Bayon is unique amond all Angkor-period ruins in its construction.The faces of Avalokiteshvara have been carved into huge blocks of stone hoisted into position,creating and aesthetic of overwhelming force and boldness.

The faces of Avalokiteshvara carved on the four sides of towers take on different expressions,sometimes forbidding,sometimes gentle and compassionate,with the changing light of sunset.

Along the Royal Roads To Angkor Thom (6)

Now come to see more gallery on sides of walls in Angkor Thom ....

                                    

This screne shows a boat of Chams attacking the Khmer forces.

Battles between Khmer forces and the Chams are depicted in the bas-riliefts of the first gallery.

Other reliefs show scenes of everyday life,such as a woman cleaned her hair, first had baby ...

These were offering a vivid depiction for the way of lives of the Angkor kingdom during illustrious reign of the builer king Jayavarman VII.