Wallpaper by Design
  • Wallpapers
    • Flower Wallpaper Gallery
    • Beach Wallpaper Gallery
    • Sunset Wallpapers
    • National Parks Wallpapers >
      • Glacier National Park Wallpaper
      • Grand Tetons Wallpaper
      • Hoh Rainforest Wallpaper
      • Logan Pass Wallpaper
      • Mt Rainier Wallpaper
      • Yellowstone Geological Wallpaper
      • Calcite Canyon, Yellowstone National Park Wallpaper
      • Yosemite Half Dome Wallpaper
      • Yosemite Meadow Wallpaper
      • Yosemite Valley Wallpaper
    • Autumn/Fall Wallpaper Gallery >
      • Autumn by the River Wallpaper
      • Autumn Leaf Wallpaper
      • Autumn Tree Wallpaper
      • Country Fall Wallpaper
      • Country Road Fall Wallpaper
      • Fall Colors Wallpaper
      • Lake Tahoe Autumn Wallpaper
      • Orange Fall Wallpaper
      • Small Town Fall Wallpaper
      • Turning Leaves Fall Wallpaper
    • Nature Wallpaper Gallery >
      • Double Rainbow Wallpaper
      • Forest View Nature Wallpaper
      • Lily Pad Wallpaper
      • Nature Wallpaper
      • Redwoods Wallpaper
      • Waterfall Wallpaper
    • Winter Wallpaper Gallery >
      • Early Snow Wallpaper
      • Lake Tahoe Wintertime Wallpaper
      • River in Winter Wallpaper
      • Snow Drop Wallpaper
      • Winter Scene in Truckee
      • Winter Barn Wallpaper
      • Winter Forest Wallpaper
      • Winter Icicles Wallpaper
      • Winter Pinecones
    • Ocean Wallpaper Gallery >
      • Coastline Wallpaper
      • Haystack Rock Wallpaper
      • Cape Blanco Lighthouse Wallpaper
      • Ocean Wave Wallpaper
      • Sailing Wallpaper
      • Sea Life Wallpaper
      • Ocean Wallpaper
      • Starfish Wallpaper
    • Cows >
      • Cow Wallpaper 1
      • Cow Wallpaper 2
      • Cow Wallpaper 3
      • Cow Wallpaper 4
      • Cow Wallpaper 5
      • Cow Wallpaper 6
      • Cow Wallpaper 7
      • Cow Wallpaper 8
      • Cow Wallpaper 9
      • Cow Wallpaper 10
      • Cow Wallpaper 11
      • Cow Wallpaper 12
    • Animal Wallpaper Gallery >
      • Black Bear Wallpaper
      • Deer Wallpaper
      • Duck Wallpaper
      • Fox Wallpaper
      • Grizzly Bear Wallpaper
      • Leopard Wallpaper
      • Macaque Monkey Wallpaper
      • Squirrel Monkey Wallpaper
      • White Tiger Wallpaper
    • Lakes and Rivers Wallpaper Gallery >
      • Desert Lake Wallpaper
      • Donner Lake Wallpaper
      • Lake Tahoe Wallpaper
      • Lake Reflections Wallpaper
      • Mountain Lake Wallpaper
      • River Rock Wallpaper
      • Snowflower Lake Wallpaper
      • Tahoe Shore Wallpaper
      • Truckee River Wallpaper
    • Butterfly Wallpaper Gallery
  • Photography
    • Architecture Album >
      • Photography, Architecture, Bridges
      • Photography, Architecture, Old American Barns
      • Photography, Architecture, Ruins
    • Art Album >
      • Photography, Art, Buddha Sculptures
      • Photography, Art, Michael Hayden
      • Photography, Art, Sidewalk Art
    • Cities Album >
      • Photography, Cities, Chiang Mai
      • Photography, Cities, Chicago
      • Photography, Cities, Vancouver, BC
      • Photography, Cities, Vientiane
      • Photography, Cities, Cityscapes
    • Countries Album >
      • Photography, Countries, Bali
      • Photography, Countries, India
      • Photography, Countries, Laos, PDR
      • Photography, Countries, Thailand
    • Events Album >
      • Photography, Events, Chiang Mai Flower Festival
      • Photography, Events, Loy Krathong
      • Photography, Events, Peace Festival
      • Photography, Events, Reno Hot Air Balloon Race
    • People Album >
      • Photography, People, Jazz
      • Photography, People, March of the Monks
      • Photography, People, Xtreme Sports
      • Photography, People, Griya Faria
    • Oregon Coast Images >
      • Oregon Coast 1
      • Oregon Coast 2
      • Oregon Coast 3
      • Oregon Coast 4
      • Oregon Coast 6
      • Oregon Coast 7
      • Oregon Coast 8
      • Oregon Coast 9
      • Oregon Coast 10
      • Oregon Coast 11
      • Oregon Coast 12
  • Features
    • Tips on Setting Your Desktop Wallpaper
    • Jill Bolte Taylor Video
    • Interesting Facts About Butterflies
    • Photography, Nature, Flowers >
      • A Picture of a Flower
      • Bird of Paradise
      • Blooming Thistle
      • Blue Orchid
      • Blue Flower
      • Bottle Brush Flower
      • Daffodils
      • Dahlia Flower
      • Exotic Flowers Picture
      • Exotic Flowers
      • Beautiful Flower
      • Flamingo Flower
      • Floral Pictures
      • Flower Background
      • Flower Bouquet
      • Flower Desktop Background
      • Flower Garden
      • Flower Garden Pictures
      • Flower Image
      • Flower Images
      • Flower Photo
      • Flower Photography
      • Flower Photos
      • Flower Pic
      • Flower Picture
      • Flower Pictures
      • Flower Wallpaper
      • Flower Wallpapers
      • Flowers and Plants
      • Flowers Background
      • Flowers Photo
      • Flowers Photos
      • Flowers Picture
      • For Peter
      • Hawaiian Flowers
      • Images of Flowers
      • Images of Roses
      • Lavendar Flowers
      • Most Beautiful Flowers
      • Orange Flowers
      • Orchid Pictures
      • Orchid Purple
      • Orchid Flower
      • Orchid
      • Orchids Picture
      • Orchids
      • Pansies
      • Pansy
      • Photo Flower
      • Photo Flowers
      • Photo of Flowers
      • Photos Flowers
      • Photos of Flowers
      • Pic of Flowers
      • Pics of Flowers
      • Picture Flower
      • Picture Flowers
      • Picture of a Flower
      • Picture of Flower
      • Picture of Flowers
      • Picture of Roses
      • Pictures Flowers
      • Pictures of a Flower
      • Pictures of Daisies
      • Pictures of Flower
      • Pictures of Flowers
      • Pictures of Orchids
      • Pictures of Roses
      • Pictures of Tropical Flowers
      • Pink Orchid
      • Plants and Flowers
      • Plumeria
      • Poppy
      • Pretty Flowers
      • Purple Ascocentrum Orchid
      • Purple Flower Desktop
      • Purple Flowers
      • Purple Orchids
      • Red Flowers
      • Red Orchid
      • Red Orchids
      • Rose Flower Pictures
      • Rose Flowers Pictures
      • Rose Photos
      • Roses Images
      • Roses Pictures
      • Shasta Daisy
      • Snapdragons
      • Spider Flower
      • Spring Pictures of Flowers
      • Sun Flowers
      • Sunflower Pictures
      • Sunflowers Pictures
      • Thistles
      • Tropical Flowers
      • Unique Flowers
      • Unusual Flowers
      • Wallpaper Flower
      • Wallpaper Flowers
      • Water Lily
      • Waterdrops
      • Whispy
      • White Orchid
      • White Flower
      • Yellow Flowers
      • Yellow Orchids
    • Butterfly Trivia Quiz
  • Travel Stories
    • A Week in Bali
    • Sunrise with the Dolphins
    • Snorkeling, Lovina Hot Springs and Singaraja, Bali
    • Drive to Ubud, More Monkeys, and Butterflies Too!
    • Ubud - Artist Community and Cultural Center of bali
    • Griya Faria, Ubud's Rocking Reggae Band
    • Ubud's Terraced Rice Fields and Rakhi Celebration
    • Sacred Monkey Forest, Ubud, Bali
    • Sanur, Bali's Watersports Paradise
    • Tigers: Up Close and Personal
    • Dinner at Na's
    • Dining Out in Thailand
    • Getting High in Thailand
    • Chiang Mai Flower Festival
    • Go, Dog, Go
    • A Dog's Life
    • A Dog Day Afternoon
    • Care for Dogs
    • Breakdown in Yellowstone
    • Chicago!
    • Butterflies, Dragonflies and Bullfrogs, A Day in Iowa
    • Sacramento Sidewalk Art
    • Impressions of Laos

Impressions of Laos

Traveling to Laos was initially a Visa business trip. After having used up three 30 day Thailand Visas, it was time to take drastic steps and go for a 60 day Visa! I had a choice of several countries I could go to in order to accomplish this task. I chose Laos for several reasons, I liked the fact that it was nearby, a Buddhist country, and lush and beautiful like Thailand.

I was also curious to see the difference between the two countries, culturally and physically, now that I have a feel for Thailand.

I had considered taking a slow, two day river boat from Thailand to Laos; I imagined how beautiful that would be. I am trying to learn not to put expectations on what my experience will be, because it is always different in reality than the pictures I paint in my head. After questioning Pink about her experience taking that boat ride, the reality was two 8 hour days on a hard wooden seat in cramped quarters on a rocky boat ride. No food, only the water I brought. I gave up the idea of the boat trip, and decided to fly.

After my flight from Chiang Mai to Udon Thani was confirmed, I did a little research. Udon Thani is in Thailand close to the border of Laos, near the capital city of Vientiane. I found a nice map of Vientiane, and printed it. I also looked up vegetarian restaurants; just to be sure I would be able to eat! I found three, and printed it out. As it turned out, as in Thailand, vegetarian food was offered as a choice at many of the food places.

From Udon Thani I would take a bus to the border and from there a taxi to my hotel.

The day before I left I decided to explore hotels. I had researched them before, but found prices online were very high. I had heard you could get a nice room for $6 a night, so I was going to wait until I got there to inspect the options before choosing. Having second thoughts, I did find a good room online in a decent hotel in an excellent location. I booked the room for two nights, figuring if I found something I liked more I could switch for my last two nights there.

I ended up staying the whole time at Saysouly Guesthouse. It was located a block from the Mekong River, in the midst of the busy riverside business area. Surrounded by restaurants, bookstores, internet shops, other hotels, and of course, little shops, it was ideal.

Since the main purpose of my visit was to apply for a Tourist Visa at the Thailand Embassy, all of my sightseeing was worked around that schedule. I would have to go in the morning to apply, and return the following afternoon to pick up.
Picture
After spending all morning Tuesday standing on line with 300 foreigners, my application was in and I was free for the afternoon. I went back to my room, had a bite to eat, and grabbed a Tuk Tuk ride to the morning market.

The market consists of row after row of vendors displaying wares in separate booths. If you are looking for beautiful cloth material, you will find several rows to choose from. In fact, if you are looking for ANYTHING, you can pretty much find it here.

Always a looker, rarely a buyer, I left the market to explore the area and see what I could find. I had seen an interesting sight on my ride to the market, and was aiming in the direction I thought it was in. I was very fortunate to turn a corner and catch site of my goal.

What I had found was Patuxai, which translates to Arch of Triumph. (Now known as the Leaning Tower of Patuxai)

It was surrounded by a beautiful park area. The closer I walked, the more interesting the building became. I started wondering if there were stairs I could climb to get to the top, thinking it would be a great view of the city.

Of course, what would a seven story monument be good for if it didn’t offer a view from the top?

After paying my 1000 kip to access the 7 flights of stairs, I began my upward climb. Along the way I passed interesting portholes, and several floors had concession stands setup, selling a wide array of tourist items. A nice break between the flights of stairs!

The final flight up the winding staircase rewarded me with a view of the city. Vientiane is quite expansive.


The town center of Vientiane has a mixture of new and old.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
You can even find a rooster or two strolling down the sidewalk.
Along the river where I had chosen to stay there is also a mixture of some new, mostly old. The Presidential Palace is right up the street from the business district I was staying in. I understand the Palace is rarely used, only occasionally for ceremonial purposes.


Across the street from the Palace on the rivers edge, the style is a little different.
Picture
Picture





Further down river, is the River Promenade, a stretch of outdoor restaurants overlooking the Mekong River.


Wednesday afternoon I had to return to the Embassy to pick up my visa. I left early in the morning so I could explore the surrounding area. I had the Tuk Tuk driver drop me off at the Embassy, and started off walking from there.

I was drawn to a building I could see several blocks away. Turned out I had stumbled upon the most important National monument in Laos, Pha That Luang. What luck I was having!

The Great Stupa is the most important national monument in Laos, and is a symbol of the Buddhist religion and Lao Sovereignty. An image of the Stupa appears on the national seal of Laos. Once surrounded by 4 Wats, 2 remain today, the Wat That Luang Neua and Wat That Luang Tai.

Picture
The garden was full of wonderful statues, and many images of Buddha.
Picture
Picture
Picture
I returned to the Embassy, retrieved my passport, and went back to my room.

A couple doors away from my hotel there was a Lao Traditional Dance theater. Every night I could hear the music, so this night I decided to attend the show


Even found a Buddhist kitty living among the Buddha’s. (What karma!)
Picture


I really enjoyed the city, but was aching to get out into the countryside and see some of the beauty of Lao. I had been to visit several tour guide shops, and had seen the gorgeous photos of the mountains, and National Protected Areas, the beautiful waterfalls, lush landscapes. But most trips were 2-3 days long, and I didn’t have the time. I only had one day left to explore Laos.
More Laos: A Visit to the Countryside










Digital Images 
by ccdeleo
  • Wallpapers
    • Flower Wallpaper Gallery
    • Beach Wallpaper Gallery
    • Sunset Wallpapers
    • National Parks Wallpapers >
      • Glacier National Park Wallpaper
      • Grand Tetons Wallpaper
      • Hoh Rainforest Wallpaper
      • Logan Pass Wallpaper
      • Mt Rainier Wallpaper
      • Yellowstone Geological Wallpaper
      • Calcite Canyon, Yellowstone National Park Wallpaper
      • Yosemite Half Dome Wallpaper
      • Yosemite Meadow Wallpaper
      • Yosemite Valley Wallpaper
    • Autumn/Fall Wallpaper Gallery >
      • Autumn by the River Wallpaper
      • Autumn Leaf Wallpaper
      • Autumn Tree Wallpaper
      • Country Fall Wallpaper
      • Country Road Fall Wallpaper
      • Fall Colors Wallpaper
      • Lake Tahoe Autumn Wallpaper
      • Orange Fall Wallpaper
      • Small Town Fall Wallpaper
      • Turning Leaves Fall Wallpaper
    • Nature Wallpaper Gallery >
      • Double Rainbow Wallpaper
      • Forest View Nature Wallpaper
      • Lily Pad Wallpaper
      • Nature Wallpaper
      • Redwoods Wallpaper
      • Waterfall Wallpaper
    • Winter Wallpaper Gallery >
      • Early Snow Wallpaper
      • Lake Tahoe Wintertime Wallpaper
      • River in Winter Wallpaper
      • Snow Drop Wallpaper
      • Winter Scene in Truckee
      • Winter Barn Wallpaper
      • Winter Forest Wallpaper
      • Winter Icicles Wallpaper
      • Winter Pinecones
    • Ocean Wallpaper Gallery >
      • Coastline Wallpaper
      • Haystack Rock Wallpaper
      • Cape Blanco Lighthouse Wallpaper
      • Ocean Wave Wallpaper
      • Sailing Wallpaper
      • Sea Life Wallpaper
      • Ocean Wallpaper
      • Starfish Wallpaper
    • Cows >
      • Cow Wallpaper 1
      • Cow Wallpaper 2
      • Cow Wallpaper 3
      • Cow Wallpaper 4
      • Cow Wallpaper 5
      • Cow Wallpaper 6
      • Cow Wallpaper 7
      • Cow Wallpaper 8
      • Cow Wallpaper 9
      • Cow Wallpaper 10
      • Cow Wallpaper 11
      • Cow Wallpaper 12
    • Animal Wallpaper Gallery >
      • Black Bear Wallpaper
      • Deer Wallpaper
      • Duck Wallpaper
      • Fox Wallpaper
      • Grizzly Bear Wallpaper
      • Leopard Wallpaper
      • Macaque Monkey Wallpaper
      • Squirrel Monkey Wallpaper
      • White Tiger Wallpaper
    • Lakes and Rivers Wallpaper Gallery >
      • Desert Lake Wallpaper
      • Donner Lake Wallpaper
      • Lake Tahoe Wallpaper
      • Lake Reflections Wallpaper
      • Mountain Lake Wallpaper
      • River Rock Wallpaper
      • Snowflower Lake Wallpaper
      • Tahoe Shore Wallpaper
      • Truckee River Wallpaper
    • Butterfly Wallpaper Gallery
  • Photography
    • Architecture Album >
      • Photography, Architecture, Bridges
      • Photography, Architecture, Old American Barns
      • Photography, Architecture, Ruins
    • Art Album >
      • Photography, Art, Buddha Sculptures
      • Photography, Art, Michael Hayden
      • Photography, Art, Sidewalk Art
    • Cities Album >
      • Photography, Cities, Chiang Mai
      • Photography, Cities, Chicago
      • Photography, Cities, Vancouver, BC
      • Photography, Cities, Vientiane
      • Photography, Cities, Cityscapes
    • Countries Album >
      • Photography, Countries, Bali
      • Photography, Countries, India
      • Photography, Countries, Laos, PDR
      • Photography, Countries, Thailand
    • Events Album >
      • Photography, Events, Chiang Mai Flower Festival
      • Photography, Events, Loy Krathong
      • Photography, Events, Peace Festival
      • Photography, Events, Reno Hot Air Balloon Race
    • People Album >
      • Photography, People, Jazz
      • Photography, People, March of the Monks
      • Photography, People, Xtreme Sports
      • Photography, People, Griya Faria
    • Oregon Coast Images >
      • Oregon Coast 1
      • Oregon Coast 2
      • Oregon Coast 3
      • Oregon Coast 4
      • Oregon Coast 6
      • Oregon Coast 7
      • Oregon Coast 8
      • Oregon Coast 9
      • Oregon Coast 10
      • Oregon Coast 11
      • Oregon Coast 12
  • Features
    • Tips on Setting Your Desktop Wallpaper
    • Jill Bolte Taylor Video
    • Interesting Facts About Butterflies
    • Photography, Nature, Flowers >
      • A Picture of a Flower
      • Bird of Paradise
      • Blooming Thistle
      • Blue Orchid
      • Blue Flower
      • Bottle Brush Flower
      • Daffodils
      • Dahlia Flower
      • Exotic Flowers Picture
      • Exotic Flowers
      • Beautiful Flower
      • Flamingo Flower
      • Floral Pictures
      • Flower Background
      • Flower Bouquet
      • Flower Desktop Background
      • Flower Garden
      • Flower Garden Pictures
      • Flower Image
      • Flower Images
      • Flower Photo
      • Flower Photography
      • Flower Photos
      • Flower Pic
      • Flower Picture
      • Flower Pictures
      • Flower Wallpaper
      • Flower Wallpapers
      • Flowers and Plants
      • Flowers Background
      • Flowers Photo
      • Flowers Photos
      • Flowers Picture
      • For Peter
      • Hawaiian Flowers
      • Images of Flowers
      • Images of Roses
      • Lavendar Flowers
      • Most Beautiful Flowers
      • Orange Flowers
      • Orchid Pictures
      • Orchid Purple
      • Orchid Flower
      • Orchid
      • Orchids Picture
      • Orchids
      • Pansies
      • Pansy
      • Photo Flower
      • Photo Flowers
      • Photo of Flowers
      • Photos Flowers
      • Photos of Flowers
      • Pic of Flowers
      • Pics of Flowers
      • Picture Flower
      • Picture Flowers
      • Picture of a Flower
      • Picture of Flower
      • Picture of Flowers
      • Picture of Roses
      • Pictures Flowers
      • Pictures of a Flower
      • Pictures of Daisies
      • Pictures of Flower
      • Pictures of Flowers
      • Pictures of Orchids
      • Pictures of Roses
      • Pictures of Tropical Flowers
      • Pink Orchid
      • Plants and Flowers
      • Plumeria
      • Poppy
      • Pretty Flowers
      • Purple Ascocentrum Orchid
      • Purple Flower Desktop
      • Purple Flowers
      • Purple Orchids
      • Red Flowers
      • Red Orchid
      • Red Orchids
      • Rose Flower Pictures
      • Rose Flowers Pictures
      • Rose Photos
      • Roses Images
      • Roses Pictures
      • Shasta Daisy
      • Snapdragons
      • Spider Flower
      • Spring Pictures of Flowers
      • Sun Flowers
      • Sunflower Pictures
      • Sunflowers Pictures
      • Thistles
      • Tropical Flowers
      • Unique Flowers
      • Unusual Flowers
      • Wallpaper Flower
      • Wallpaper Flowers
      • Water Lily
      • Waterdrops
      • Whispy
      • White Orchid
      • White Flower
      • Yellow Flowers
      • Yellow Orchids
    • Butterfly Trivia Quiz
  • Travel Stories
    • A Week in Bali
    • Sunrise with the Dolphins
    • Snorkeling, Lovina Hot Springs and Singaraja, Bali
    • Drive to Ubud, More Monkeys, and Butterflies Too!
    • Ubud - Artist Community and Cultural Center of bali
    • Griya Faria, Ubud's Rocking Reggae Band
    • Ubud's Terraced Rice Fields and Rakhi Celebration
    • Sacred Monkey Forest, Ubud, Bali
    • Sanur, Bali's Watersports Paradise
    • Tigers: Up Close and Personal
    • Dinner at Na's
    • Dining Out in Thailand
    • Getting High in Thailand
    • Chiang Mai Flower Festival
    • Go, Dog, Go
    • A Dog's Life
    • A Dog Day Afternoon
    • Care for Dogs
    • Breakdown in Yellowstone
    • Chicago!
    • Butterflies, Dragonflies and Bullfrogs, A Day in Iowa
    • Sacramento Sidewalk Art
    • Impressions of Laos