Wednesday 29 August 2012

11 and 12 August - Vang Vieng to and at Savannahket (Laos)

We left Vang Vieng early in the afternoon for the bus to Vientiane having been told that it was a five hour journey. After a wait of one and a half hours the sleeper bus had plastic type reclining seats, no bedding of any sort, a free bottle of water, no video (not that it mattered) and mirrors on the roof of the bus. From start to finish the journey took fifteen and three-quarters of an hour to arriving at the Leena Guest House.

Laos, Vang Vieng to Savannahket, 11 August 2012, (2)
Beer house on wheels
Laos, Vang Vieng to Savannahket, 11 August 2012, (4)
Our coach
Laos, Vang Vieng to Savannahket, 11 August 2012, (5)
A different coach
Laos, Vang Vieng to Savannahket, 11 August 2012, (6)
Inside a deluxe coach
Laos, Vang Vieng to Savannahket, 11 August 2012, (7)
On another coach-and I liked it!
Savannahket sits on the side of the Mekong River and is the second largest city in Laos. There is some old French colonial architecture to be seen but actually difficult to find and not apparent to be that old. It is a slow sleepy place and that is all that could be said about the city. As usual there are some temples with a Catholic Church and Dinosaur Museum.

Laos, Savannakhet, 12 August 2012 (2)
Made of recycled tyres
Laos, Savannakhet, 12 August 2012 (4)
Mark your chickens
Laos, Savannakhet, 12 August 2012 (8)
I won't get lost
Laos, Savannakhet, 12 August 2012 (9)
An old building
Laos, Savannakhet, 12 August 2012 (13)
A food stall at the side of the river
Laos, Savannakhet, 12 August 2012 (12)
An old building
Laos, Savannakhet, 12 August 2012 (10)
An old building
Laos, Savannakhet, 12 August 2012 (11)
An old building

Laos, Savannakhet, Catholic Church, 12 August 2012 (1)
Catholic Church
Laos, Savannakhet, Chinese Temple, 12 August 2012 (2)
Lattanalungsy Temple
                     Laos, Savannakhet, Vietnanese Temple, 12 August 2012 (2)  Laos, Savannakhet, Vietnanese Temple, 12 August 2012 (3)                             

Sayyapoum Temple (below)

Laos, Savannakhet, Near GH, 12 August 2012 (2)   Laos, Savannakhet, Near GH, 12 August 2012 (1)  Laos, Savannakhet, Near GH, 12 August 2012 (4)

Xayaphoun Temple is a 16th century temple located in the centre of the city along the bank of the Mekong river. It is now used as both a temple and high school for novice monks of Savannahket (below).

 Laos, Savannakhet, Temple near Catholic Church, 12 August 2012 (1)  Laos, Savannakhet, Temple near Catholic Church, 12 August 2012 (2)  Laos, Savannakhet, Temple near Catholic Church, 12 August 2012 (4)  Laos, Savannakhet, Temple near Catholic Church, 12 August 2012 (6)  Laos, Savannakhet, Temple near Catholic Church, 12 August 2012 (7)  Laos, Savannakhet, Temple near Catholic Church, 12 August 2012 (8)  Laos, Savannakhet, Temple near Catholic Church, 12 August 2012 (9)  Laos, Savannakhet, Temple near Catholic Church, 12 August 2012 (11)  Laos, Savannakhet, Temple near Catholic Church, 12 August 2012 (10)

Laos, Savannakhet, Xayaphoun Temple, 12 August 2012 (23)  Laos, Savannakhet, Xayaphoun Temple, 12 August 2012 (20)

Laos, Savannakhet, Xayaphoun Temple, 12 August 2012 (2)  Laos, Savannakhet, Xayaphoun Temple, 12 August 2012 (7)  Laos, Savannakhet, Xayaphoun Temple, 12 August 2012 (8)   Laos, Savannakhet, Xayaphoun Temple, 12 August 2012 (11)  Laos, Savannakhet, Xayaphoun Temple, 12 August 2012 (12)  Laos, Savannakhet, Xayaphoun Temple, 12 August 2012 (14)  Laos, Savannakhet, Xayaphoun Temple, 12 August 2012 (26)  Laos, Savannakhet, Xayaphoun Temple, 12 August 2012 (35)  Laos, Savannakhet, Xayaphoun Temple, 12 August 2012 (29)

I received a lesson on the way the Buddha sits or holds his hands and to explain - if the right hand points down then Buddha is connecting to the earth; both hands up and palms facing out means to stop fighting or peace; if the Buddha is lying down then he is meditating; while lying down and the feet are parallel and level then Buddha is sleeping; if lying down and the feet are not in line then Buddha is dead. 

The Buddha's below are all for the new temple being built on the grounds. The large covered Buddha in the building was half made in Vientiane and half in Savannahket and it is covered with real gold foil. The Buddha's being made are of cast concrete using a resin mould.


Laos, Savannakhet, Xayaphoun Temple, 12 August 2012 (25)
The Buddha is already in the temple
Laos, Savannakhet, Xayaphoun Temple, 12 August 2012 (5)
Different arms can be added
  Laos, Savannakhet, Xayaphoun Temple, 12 August 2012 (4)    Laos, Savannakhet, Xayaphoun Temple, 12 August 2012 (6)

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