Esaan, Laos and the celebrations in Bangkok 

Esaan, Laos and the celebrations in Bangkok

Hello people!

Have at last managed to catch up and get the photos from our last CD online - the last photos on it are from a month ago, but we haven't filled another CD since then (yet) - more coming up soon!

ESAAN / NORTHEAST THAILAND

Typical landscape in Esaan - flat with lots of rice paddies, buffaloes and thatched bamboo huts - a traditional farming area and maybe the most untouched area in Thailand by tourists:




A traffic (or should I say cattle?!?) jam in Esaan:


A typical Esaan cow:


...and typical Esaan sausages - apparently not as good as the Austrian ones, according to Alexander:


A particularly beautiful temple on the lakeside in Khon Kaen - surrounded by the sound of wind chimes hung around it and with beautiful views over the surrounding area:


One of many Chinese temples, indicating the influence and wealth of the local Chinese immigrant population:


Another beautiful and very peaceful temple on the outskirts of Khon Kaen:


A really nice bar in Khon Kaen:


Wat Kaek, an eccentric park in Nongkai full of religious statuary built by Luang Pu, a Lao spiritual leader of his own Buddhist-Hinduist sect, who was very popular in Esaan:


A shop selling all sorts of household articles on the roadside:


Sunset over the Mekong river in Nongkai:



LAOS:

The border to Laos - our trip there ended up being far too short. After the disappointments in Cambodia and Vietnam and our prolonged stay in Phuket due to various illnesses we decided to cut the trip over the border (necessary for our Thai Visa) to only two days - unfortunately, as we really liked it there and want to go back on our next long trip to Asia!


Our first Beer Lao in Laos - very enjoyable! On the Mekong riverside in Vientiane:


Fields and palm trees in Laos:


Nature cures for sale on the streets of Vientiane:


Talat Sao Market - a colourful experience:


The Patuxai in Vientiane - the Lao equaivalent to the French Arc de Triomphe:


..and it's view over the capital city - surprisingly rural, it felt more like a small town than a city:


River restaurants in Vientiane:


One of many markets in Khon Kaen - yellow everywhere in advance of the celebrations for the Kings 60th anniversary of succesion to the throne:


Live frogs being sold:


...and pig's heads:



BANGKOK:

One of many arches set up for the King's celebrations:


Fireworks behind the Royal Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo - one display of several - and the crowds gathered to pay tribute to their beloved King:




Empty streets - cleared to allow some of the international VIP guests to pass - typical!


"Our" alleyway - where we paid to sit on a small ramshackle balcony over the river, along with many others, to watch the Royal Barge Procession - an amazing experience!


The riverbanks were lined with loyal subjects dressed in yellow:


A couple of the 52 beautiful royal barges rowed in time by 2082 oarsmen and accompanied by an eerie Boat Song: