Lotsa wats today

In contrast to the temples we’d seen in Cambodia, here in Vientiane it was time to explore lotsa wats (temples) that are currently still in active use – like Wat Si Muang. 

At That Luang I found the dragons rather scary at first but was told they are just there to guard the entrance to the temple and they are in fact rather fond of donkeys.  

So I behaved myself and took care not to disturb the figures sleeping nearby.  

 
We found a stall selling “mystery balls” and decided to give them a try.  Well, I liked the eco-friendly disposable “plates” made from banana leaves but preferred the munchies  I’d brought along in my nosebag to these funny “mystery balls”. 






























Afterwards we visited the Patuxai monument, which is also nicknamed "the vertical runway" as it was apparently built with cement that was supposed to have been used to build a new airport. 

We climbed to the top to get a view over the town of Vientiane.