On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
Auntie Anne
Laos,officially the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR or LPDR), is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of the GDP and provides 80% of employment. Rice dominates agriculture, with about 80% of the arable land area used for growing rice.
We visited only Luang Prabang, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995. Luang Prabang is a picturesque town located in northern Laos at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. The town is famous for its cultural heritage and well-preserved architecture with a fusion of traditional Lao wooden houses and colonial European influences.
I loved Laos; it was my favorite of the four countries we visited. The people are kind and welcoming, and the pace is relaxed. I wish we had had more time in Laos.
Our introduction to Laos came at the airport in Luang Prabang. pictured here. Our local guide, Ken (the closest approximation to his name we could pronounce), is pictured here.
From the airport, we went directly to the Royal Palace. The Royal Palace was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family. The site for the palace was chosen so that official visitors to Luang Prabang could disembark from their river voyages directly below the palace and be received there. After Sisavang’s death, the crown prince Savang Vatthana and his family were the last to occupy the grounds. In 1975, the monarchy was overthrown by the communists, and the royal family were taken to re-education camps. The palace was then converted into a national museum.
This is a statue of King Sisavang Vong, for whom the French built the palace. The statue was a gift from the Soviet Union. On display in the palace are gifts from many nations the royal family was given, including a moon rock from the US.
Another exterior view of the palace at the rear. No photographs are permitted inside, and they are quite strict about it. You also have to remove your shoes to be permitted inside the museum.
I am cheating here – although this picture was taken outside, it is very indicative of the detailed murals that cover the inside of the palace. They made from glass tiles.
The palace also contains a collection of prized art including a cast of the Pha Bang buddha statue in gold, silver and bronze.
Haw Pha Bang temple is located in the northeastern corner of the Palace grounds. The temple was built to house the Phra Bang Buddha image, a statue regarded as the most important Buddha image in Laos. It came from Sri Lanka where it was cast in the 1st century. The image gave its the name to the town Luang Prabang in 1512 and became a symbol of the royal dynasty.
Although the temple looks old, it is a new structure in 2006 with the traditional style. On top of the white structure, the multi-layered and steep roof is decorated with lots of gold. Dragon sculptures are along the staircase.
Meet Jasper, a six year old Chinese boy, who approached our tour group so he could practice his English. Jasper was adorable – and his mother allowed us to take his picture.
Monks at the Haw Pha Bang temple
Ramalama
The murals are made from glass tiles? Gorgeous.
Cute kid.
eclare
What an interesting country.
Shamooo
What a beautiful travelogue, Auntie Anne I felt like I was right there wandering the serene streets of Luang Prabang with you! 🇱🇦✨
Your description of the Royal Palace and its layered history was fascinating – from its regal beginnings to its quiet transformation into a national museum. It’s wild to think about moon rocks and re-education camps sharing the same roof, isn’t it?
The details about the glass tile murals and the Haw Pha Bang temple gave me chills – it’s amazing how something so new can feel ancient just by embracing traditional design. And Jasper! What a sweet moment – kids have a way of making the world feel smaller in the best way possible. 💛
Laos sounds like a place that moves at the perfect pace for soaking up history, kindness, and beauty. Thank you for sharing it with such heart – now I’ve bumped it to the top of my “must-visit” list!
WaterGirl
@Shamooo: Welcome!
Chat Noir
That is so nice! I love your Southeast Asia travelogue. I remember when Vietnam and the U.S. normalized relations in the mid 90s and I wanted to visit.
Deputinize America
I loved Luang Prabang – we participated in the almsgiving to the monks in the early morning hours!
Mike in Pasadena
Thank you for these delightful photos. It’s unlikely I’ll ever get to Laos, so it was especially helpful to see your photos.
Auntie Anne
@Deputinize America: We did too. I think you’ll see a picture tomorrow.
DanB
pluky
Given that Lao is a tonal language, not only were you unable to pronounce your guide’s name, pretty good chance your ear couldn’t discern what it was you needed to pronounce.
WaterGirl
@DanB: Welcome!
We do have a Dan B., so your nym is a bit different.
Auntie Anne
@pluky: Yes, you’re right. Our lead guide was Thai and made an attempt to teach us some basic phrases in each language. Things like “Hello”. “Thank you” etc. I found it really confusing because the words were similar but the tones and emphasis were different. Thankfully, a quick bow and smile worked well for me.