Making merit in Vientiane, Laos

Birds in Vientiane, Laos

We were for a few days in Vientiane, Laos and I did what I many times do. Just start walking and get lost. The photo left was made at a temple-shop near our hotel in Vientiane. The photo right was made near the Victory Gate where you can buy an bird and set it free to gain good luck.

Location: Vientiane, Laos

Popular posts from this blog

The Rice Field Project Part 29 : Foundation and beams

Image
As part of Living in Thailand, the Rice Field Project follows our journey of buying land, preparing it for building our house and finally building our house. This is part 28, to read the other parts click The Rice Field Project. We bought the first plot of land in September 2017. The extra plot of land was bought in November 2017. The real construction of the house started 29 October 2018 and the erecting of the first pole was at 8 November 2018.

Status report at 17 November 2018 : So what happend since the last update 10 days ago? In the previous update you did see there were 18 holes made and in each hole a footing with a pole of steel on top. Well those poles have been cast with cement and the holes have been closed. While doing that there was also made a big hole behind the house. This hole is for the septic tanks. Two tanks of each 3 cement rings. Each ring is 50cm high. Later a third tank of plastic will be placed.
The next step was making beams between the poles. This beams ar…
Keep reading

On the Motorbike to I-San Jurassic Park in Kalasin

Image
As it is finally great weather again for riding the bike I made trip in direction of Yang Talat, Kalasin and then via route 227 in direction "Lam Poa" reservoir at Sahatasakhan. Actually I followed the signs "Sirindhorn bridge" because I was curious what was so import about that bridge to mention it almost at Kalasin. Well the bridge goes over the "Lam Pao" reservoir and is a few km long. The reservoir was at a high level and some roads nearby the lake were flooded. Now this is a weird bridge to be build over an reservoir without and real road on the west-side and ending in village on the east-side without any signs how to get out of the village. On the west-side are some lake-side restaurants selling bbq chicken and fish.

But first I followed the signs "Siridhorn Museum" which is also called "I-San Jurassic Park" and which is actually really a museum. And although on the outside it did look a bit old and not taken care of, inside it …
Keep reading

On the motorbike for another Bo Klua loop in Nan

Image
Nice cool weather is here again, so it was time for a Bo Klua loop on the motorbike. Living in Pua that is not such a big loop, only 120 km. From Pua to Bo Klua via the beautiful route 1256, only 47 km. Although a sign in Pua makes you think it is 78 km, but that is via Santisuk. Rout 1256 is mostly in good conditioning, although there are a few bad sections and big bumps in the road. Almost in Bo Klua I noticed that my chain was making a weird noice and I had a look : Totally dry! So I stopped at a small motorbike workshop in Bo Klua and the guy did lube my chain free of charge. And with real good chain lube! From Bo Klua I took route 1081 in direction of Santisuk and back to Pua again. I thought to make a pit-stop at Atlas Coffee Shop or Base 29 Coffee Shop but both were closed so I arrived a bit hungry in Pua. It was a great riding again after a few months not riding. Following are a a few photos and a map of the route I took. For more information about the beautiful Nan province …
Keep reading

The temple island at Kwan Phayao

Image
Due to the low water-level (due to lack of rain in 2016) it is not possible anymore to take the longtail boat to the island with the old temple. But the Thai can be very inventive and thought of a great solution. They did build a bamboo bridge! So now you can walk to the island. And the nice thing is that the bridge and island are lighted at night. That looks beautiful and now you can visit the island temple also in the evening (much cooler).


Keep reading

Food, Food and more ..... Mu Ka Ta

Image
Mu Ka Ta is what it is called in Thailand ... or Korean BBQ. Also written as Moo Kata. It means something like "Pork Wok".  It is a  DIY dinner. This photo was taken at a Mu Ka Ta restaurant in a small village just outside Khon Kean city. But there are restaurants like this everywhere in Thailand. And also a bit in Laos and Cambodia.

The idea is that a small BBQ is placed on (or in) the table and on top is a kind of plate in the form of a hat. On top of the "hat" is placed a piece of fat that will grease the all hat. You will have a dish with fresh vegetable and noodle and a dish with pork meat. Some restaurants will also be able to serve seafood, beef, liver, etc. You will also get a kettle with water (or better bullion) and the water is then put in the "ring" of the "hat". Then the DIY fun starts! Put the vegetables etc. in the water and the meat on the top. It is All-You-Can-Eat for a fixed price, ranging from 99 to 199 Thai baht. Of course …
Keep reading

Sakad Coffee in Ban Sakad

Image
The little village Ban Sakad at 950m high in the mountains of Doi Phu Kha has unfortunately been found by Thai tourists. And for good reasons because it is a lovely village. So besides a few home-stays there is now also a kind of coffee shop with the original name Sakad Coffee. As you can see at the photos you will have great view at this coffee shop. For more information about the beautiful Nan province in North Thailand see Destination Travel Guide Nan - Thailand.
Keep reading

On the motorbike from Pua to Chiang Mai

Image
It is cool season and high time for a multiple days motorbike ride. So I left in the morning very early, for me that is about sunrise time. But as it was very foggy I left a bit later, 6:45am. And I did not get far before to make my first photo stop right in Pua. Following is a kind of Just Back Report with photos and some information about accommodation and stops along the road.
Day 1 from Pua to Phrao I had not really intended that my destination for the first day would be Phrao, but I did choose my route and would see where I end-up at about 16:00. So the first day I extended my carbon tyre-print with another 343km, starting in Pua and taking route 101 to Chiang Klang. Be aware that between Pua and Chiang Klang they did not start with road construction. From Chiang Klang I took route 1097 to Song Kwae and then route 1148 to Phu Langkha. A bit after Phu Langkha I took route 1188 to Pong and from there route 1091and 1021 in direction of Phayao. Then a little bit route 1 to take rout…
Keep reading

About the little town Phrao in North Thailand

Image
Phrao is a little town on the intersection of route 1150 and 1001, about 90km north of Chiang Mai town. A bit on the border of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai province and Phrao is surrounded by rice fields and mountains. In town is not much to do and typically is just for a one night stop-over. East of town are a few hotels and south of town are also a few hotels like Phrao Boutique Hotel. And about 7 km north of town are a few other hotels like Doi Farang Resort. In town are of course a hospital, police station and a PTT Gasoline station with a 7-11. In town also are a few small restaurants and of course coffee shops.



Keep reading