The past month or so (January/February) I have been pretty busy getting amongst life in and around Vientiane. There is lots to experience and its fantastic being able to see so much with hardly any tourists in sight. Its a bit touch and go however on where exactly you will end up as there is so little set up giving directions and or check points to help you find what your looking for. I'm glad I've made the most of doing things in the 'lao winter' (most days have been sunny and high 20s) as its now starting to get unbearably hot moving around. I've put up a few photos of some things I've been doing and hopefully it paints a bit more of a picture of the Lao culture and beautiful country side.
Faculty of Law and Political Science, Vientiane University
In January I enjoyed spending sometime out of office at the University Law Faculty. Our firm has been helping to promote and educate law students on the differing kinds of legal work and opportuntiies involved with private practice in Lao as it is a relatively new concept. Most graduates would chose to work and or are only aware of career paths with the Government.
University Campus
Blessing of the Buddha that LLC gave to a remote village in Lao
Hundreds of people gathered at a local temple in Vientiane to bless and make offerings to a before it was to be transported north to a small village. The Buddha was donated by Buddah my law firm and I was asked to come along and participate in the ceremony. It is believed good wealth and health will come of such giving. Siri, my boss and her family headed the night long ceremony which commenced at 7pm and finished at 7am the following morning. It was an incredible ceremony to see, everyone dressed in white performing rituals.
Siri's father and husband
Offerings of money hanging from the temple
The temple full of people, including masses of people outside the temple grounds
Bike ride to Buddah Park, Vientiane
The Buddah park is a sculpture park 25km outside of Vientiane on the Mekong and contains over 200 Hundu and Buddhist statues. An early morning bike ride deserved an afternoon of massages and fruit shakes to help with recovery. Half of the trip turned out to be on ungraded, pop hole filled dirt roads.
We road past the Friendship Bridge to Thailand
Snacks on the way, yum roasted bannana and sweet potato bites
Sweet sticky rice in bamboo
Australia Day Event
All Australians in Vientiane were invited to the Ambassador's house to help celebrate Australia Day. It was a great chance to enjoy some good Australian food and wine and meet a broad mix of people working and living. I also appreciated the BBQ prawns and pavlova!
Khon Kaen Marathon, Thailand
I travelled with a few runners in Vientien to a marathon about 4 hours bus ride south across the border in Khon Kean, Thailand. I completed the 1/4 marathon (baby steps), hoping it would inspire me for a half marathon later this year. I'm keen to try one in Cambodia in June, just yet to start training!
Funniest Thai snack in all the corner shops...egg in a bag!
Waterfalls outside of Vientiane
Ban Pako Eco Lodge
We spent a relaxing Sunday travelling down the Mekong and then enjoyed lunch on the river cliff tops. It was a great chance to see some near by villages and practice speaking some Lao.
Shopping and Markets in Bangkok
Jess and I spent a weekend in Bangkok catching up with some Australians working there. It was such a fun weekend and a bit of a shock to the system with so much traffic, tall buildings, shopping malls, markets, bars (no midnight curfew) and well just functioning things in general! We shopped and shopped some more. I've never been so excited to buy nail polish and face mosturiser (without whitening cream)!
