Travel Troopers Trip to Laos 2024

Jan and I rose early for another look at Vientiane on foot. As we left the Hotel headed for the side streets and some city exploring, we saw a barefoot monk dressed in maroon robes with a large alms bowl. Having travelled through a few Asian countries we knew that robes this colour indicated that the monk was probably from Myanmar. He was on his own which was unusual so we followed him for a distance to see where he was going. At the risk of being accused of stalking a monk we turned off to see what else we could find. We came across an interesting small park with a rather peculiar shrine: we were intrigued by the animals on it but even more intrigued by the gold sequinned clad figures inside it dancing!!Seemed to be a Hindu shrine but it was a mystery! Within a short distance we came across a couple of temples starring huge elephants at their entrances. The opening hours were interesting: there’s not many places where the opening hours start at 4.30am. Back to the Hotel for a last m...

Our last full day in Laos was jam-packed with some lovely experiences. Jan and I did our usual walk early in the morning and decided to walk along the Mekong to check out Thailand on the other side of the river. There was a lot of mud and a large muddy bank before the River itself so there wasn't a lot to see apart from lots of huge hotels. Souk came to collect us and we set off for a special House and garden about 20 kms out of Vientiane. It was great to escape the noisy city and enjoy the countryside. Much of the area had been bombed during 'The Secret War' and there was evidence of that when we saw some gateposts made of large bomb cases outside a house. We arrived at an oasis: lush garden, airy wooden buildings and locally-made decorations swinging in the breeze. This was the Manichan Garden House and Cooking School run by a very enthusiastic older lady - Mrs. Manichan - and some wonderful patient staff. She calls it the Authentic Lao Cuisine Learning Centre and she...

  For many centuries the capital, or Royal capital, of Laos was Luang Prabang but once the communists took over they chose to move the capital to Vientiane. It is situated over the Mekong River from Thailand so certainly improved trade was one of the motivations, but a new regime trying to delete the history of a royal family may also have contributed. Before we left Vang Vieng Jan and I headed off for a last look around, risking life and limb over the wonky bridge, and wandering along the river path. We spotted a very intriguing rooftop ‘garden’ on one of the many multistorey hotels lining the river bank: it seemed to consist of odd seating, including a hanging ‘basket’ and a patio suspended over the river. We were so sad we couldn't go there as we were leaving! Along the river there's lot of platforms with bright-coloured chairs for the visitors to enjoy, many with Bars. No wonder there's been so many drownings! Everywhere we go there are low clouds and mists over the mo...