The comfortable restaurant and lounge has a nice collection of blue and white ceramics and carved elephants galore.
La Folie's pool is great for a dip after a steamy bicycle ride around the island. The restaurant and bar is the only one on the island, but the French and Laos food should keep you interested for a couple of days.
A spacious room and bathroom, air conditioning, ceiling fan, and balcony overlooking the Mekong - all in a hotel that is on an island that just got hooked up to the electrical grid - amazing!
There are two large sandstone pavilions at the base of Wat Phou, thought to be for segregated worshipping. They date from the 12th century and while they are pretty well intact, their walls are threatening to collapse. Go see them before nature and time take them down!
The main sanctuary of Wat Phou was originally dedicated to Siva, but has been a Buddhist shrine since the 13th century. Holy water from the sacred spring used to be channeled into here to wash the sacred linga. The wall carvings are well intact and boast dancing apsaras, Vishnu, Indra on a three-headed elephant, and Siva tearing a woman in half. A collection of Buddhas reside in the interior chamber.
Wat Phou's columned entryway and steep stairs flanked my centuries old frangipani trees make it easy to imagine grand processions from days gone by.
Upon reaching the upper level of Wat Phou, worshippers and tourists alike are rewarded with magnificent views of the lower pavilions.
Victoria Peak affords magnificent views of Hong Kong and Kowloon beyond. That is when the weather and air pollution cooperates. If you find yourself in Hong Kong on a clear day, do not delay and take the tram up to the peak, because the opportunity may not present itself again during a short trip.
Hong Kong's skyline is one of the most iconic in Asia. The 88-storey IFC Tower 2 looms large and the rooftop goal posts of the Bank of China Tower beckon a punt from the cross-harbor shores of Kowloon. Evey night at 8pm the buildings come alive as they perform a dazzling choreographed light and sound show.
Every morning in Luang Prabang the abbots from the many monasteries lead the novice monks for their morning alms.
Frans & Claire van der Lee has been a member since 20 November 2007 and goes by vanderlee.
Currently in Bangkok.
Subscriber since February 2008!
We are on a year long journey around Asia. Frans is the photographer and Claire is the trip planner. We have recently been to Thailand, Bali, Laos, Vietnam, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Korea, Mongolia, and Japan are next! We are from Washington, DC and Frans is also a web developer with www.vanderleeMEDIA.com
You can also find Frans & Claire at www.flickr.co...nderlee/sets.