Phespirit goes to Laos
Vientiane & Luang Prabang     April 2007

AFTERNOON GOLD That Luang is the Great Sacred Stupa. It is the most venerated monument in Vientiane and the whole of Laos. Apparently there's a Buddha relic somewhere inside it. The stupa stands an impressive 45m tall. It dazzles with gold but is as cold as heaven.
SUNSET STRIP Food and drink sellers ply their trade along the pavement between Fa Ngum Road and the dusty Mekong River in Vientiane. Each evening Phespirit bought a cold bottle of 7up for 3,000 Kip (18p) and settled down cross-legged on a cushion and some mats to watch the sun set behind the river.
NIGHT MARKET The night market at Luang Prabang may be aimed unashamedly at tourists, but it's still an interesting place to pass an evening. In the Royal Palace compound, just behind the white wall, is Haw Pha Bang temple.