DAYS 13+14 - LUANG PRABANG, OVERNIGHT AT CHANGI AND HOME

Last day, plane tonight to Changi, overnight there, and back to LHR tomorrow morning.  A last temple

 as we walked the length of the peninsular to the confluence of the rivers

It was a warm day so a light pad thai and fragrant basil chicken rice lunch

and more wandering and then watching the world go by

 

 On the way back to the hotel, Duncan Attenborough spotted this nasty-looking devil

'(though this gives a better idea of the size of the brute)

and followed it up with this altogether more friendly-looking specimen...

Bye lovely Laos

DAY 12 - LUANG PRABANG

At the end of the peninsula is a cluster of wats, most notably Wat Xieng Thong ("Temple of the Golden City").

Completed in 1560, it's one of the country's most important monasteries, as the coronation site for many years. It also houses the (allegedly 12m-tall) royal hearse

and surrounding it on the inside walls are glass mocaics like those in the Royal Palace, depicting Lao legends and day-to-day activities (hurrah, finally able to get some photos to show you)

and there are more on the outside walls of buildings within the complex

Certainly one of the most striking places in LP 

DAY 11 - LUANG PRABANG

So, to the National Museum (formerly the Royal Palace, built in 1904 during the French colonial period for King Sisavang Vong, last occupied by the Crown Prince until, in 1975, the monarchy was overthrown by the communists and the royal family taken to a "re-education camp" and the building became a museum).  Above the entrance is the symbol of the Lao monarchy, a three-headed elephant sheltered by the sacred white parasol.

Unfortunately no pics allowed inside - particularly annoying in the spectacular throne room, whose walls are covered in Japanese glass mosaic images of Lao life, battles and celebrations, the crown jewels and diplomatic gifts presented to Laos, grouped by "socialist" and "capitalist" countries.  There's also the Phra Bang, an 83cm, 50kg golden buddha statue made around the 1st century in Ceylon (pinched by the Siamese in 1779 and 1827 but allegedly - there's some dispute about whether this is the "real" original - repatriated in 1867)

The family's bedrooms and living quarters have been preserved as they were in 1975 when the King was forced from the palace and, in the palace grounds, there's a large statue of the late King himself, Sisavang Vong, apparently suppled by the Russians some years ago

the Royal Barge Shelter

and temple

Definitely time for coffee and a stop...

Fortified, onward to 1788 Wat Mai with glorious bas-relief work and golden stencilling

 

Late lunch of noodles and another dose of Lao coffee, and back home via Post Office 

and supermarket to check out the local snack range...

although in fact we plump for some street food