Vientiane (Feb, 2010)

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Hualamphong Train Station at Bangkok in the early evening, for the Nongkhai-bound train that will link up with the one into Thanaleng, Vientiane... Some people are simply lying down on the ground to enjoy some shut-eye while awaiting train arrival, seemingly oblivious to the noisy crowd around them.

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Had a massive headache resulting from being caught for too long under the impossible midday sun at the queue for the ticketing reception of Wat Phra Keow, so I recuperated myself up on a 2nd level eatery with rest and juices, where I had the luxury of capturing the first-floor activity at the train station.

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A look into the interior of the first-class cabin of the train, which costs the equivalent of a guesthouse in Bangkok, so it is really value for money as one gets a clean bed on the move coupled with privacy (one shares the cabin with only one person, usually of the same sex), saving both time and moolah. My favourite spot in the cabin has to be the washbasin where I can wash my face etc away from the scrutiny of most prying eyes first thing in the morning.

Initially, I had booked both ways second class (cos that's the only option for online purchase) and some seasoned traveller on Thorntree recommended bicycle chain to lock up the luggage at night. It was not particularly necessary in the first-class but it was definitely handy during my return journey when I slept on the upper bunk in the 2nd class.

My cosy sleeping spot in the cabin - lower bunk - where I slept til 5 or 6am the next morning, plus the view out of the window the next morning. Hope my NGO bunkmate did not get awakened prematurely by my amateur excitement which had most probably introduced unnecessary sunlight into the room when she was still fast asleep.

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At the Nongkhai Train Station catching the 5-min-long train ride into Thanaleng Station which lies about an hour or less by car into Vientiane, capital of Laos...

Yes, that's the blue and white train. The queue checking us out of Thailand was still a long way when we were abruptly sold a ticket into Thanaleng by a man in unofficial clothes. Worse, the train was already there and a glance at the ticket revealed that the departure timing was due in 10mins. Probably the Singaporean-conditioning in me kicked off and I imagined that the train would pull out of the station on the dot - just like how it would mostly be according to the books in my hometown. Finally bading goodbye to Land of Smiles (for the time being) out of the little train's window. It was quite hilarious that there is also available for this short 5-min journey a slightly more expensive and assumedly more comforty ticket - which of course nobody in their right mind purchase and which not even the ticketing guy bothered scamming us into buying.

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Views from out of the little train towards Thanaleng...

Thanaleng Station looking spick and span - being still very new in mid Feb 2010.

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A surprisingly refreshing yet simple drink - mung bean milk shake - right after reaching Vientiane. A mama-shop directly opposite the bus interchange near Talat Sao, where I can take the 45min-long bus to Buddha Park (Xiang Kuan).

It's the most dilapidated bus I have ever been on. The cushioned seats on the bus are mostly tattered, and the door of the bus is always left flapping open as the vehicle rumbles on. Surprisingly, the windows of the bus have the remnants of luxury which are bits of smudged curtain, which was conveniently used by the youth sitting in front of me for digging 'black gold' out of his nose, an absolutely fasinating sight.

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At Buddha Park. Tranquil environment and the sun was not too hot. Small groups of locals, and tourists taking photos and posing around the Hindu and Buddhist statues, but not to the point of disrupting the peace.

From what I read off travel accounts, one either hates or loves Buddha Park, what with its mix of religious figures in one single space.

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More on the Buddha Park statues. I'm mesmerized by them all...

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... and it's Buddha Park again...

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By the time I got back to Vientiane from Buddha Park, it was a good half day gone. The next place I went to during the late afternoon was this temple which I could not remember the name of anymore - got to check the Lonely Planet guidebook to recall the place All I recalled is that it is a very popular temple with the Laotians and there is a saying that this is a must-visit Wat if one is looking to fulfil one's wishe. There is a story behind it that a Buddha statue here is 'very wish-fulfiling' after locals found it almost unburnt in a fire or something like that.

The day when I visited it appeared to be a holy occasion of sorts (or the place was really popular) as it was simply bustling with people making prayers as seen in one of the photos below.

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The temple above is Wat Si Muang and according to the Lonely Planet is considered by the locals as the home of the city's guardian spirit. Its power to grant wishes is believed to have stemmed from a stone Buddha which, despite having been rather melted down in the process, survived a 1828 fire.

I missed the chance to do as the locals did - which is to lift the partially melted Buddha image thrice off the pillow while mentally stating one's wish, as I did not recognize the statue to be what it is, until I was leaving the temple. What a precious opportunity missed :(