Docs from Wolfgang, tagged "Laos"

Some animals they should not sell for cooking!!!

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 12:41:40 +0000

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Seen on a Laotian market in Pakse. There is no need to hunt and kill animals like this squirrels because of lack of other food!

View from the hill to Baan Nongsa in Champasak, Laos

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 12:41:30 +0000

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In this photo, looking east from the sanctuary partway up the mountain, we see the temple's causeway, which runs east-southeast and terminates in two grand barays (excavated reservoirs). The "middle baray," seen end-on in this photo, measures 200x600 meters. Its great length recedes much further into the distance than one can accurately judge here, being approximately equal to the distance from its near bank to the base of the mountain. The north baray (photo left) is wider, and lies due east of the sanctuary. The barays were probably built by Suryavarman II (1113-1150).

One asks why the axis of the temple is south of due east, and why the two barays are situated as they are. The answer lies in astronomy: the barays were designed to reflect the image of the sun, from the middle baray at the vernal equinox, and from the north baray at the summer solistice.

The Mekong divides Laos and Cambodia

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 12:41:01 +0000

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An interesting place to stay on the Khon Falls, This capture done short after the falls.

Small Lao girls like to be photographed

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 10:08:23 +0000

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there are no more words to say, just you'll close them in your heart sooner or later.

Khone Falls in Laos

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 10:08:09 +0000

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The Mekhong (Mekong) falls called uselly Khone Pha Pheng Falls but is shorten to "Khone Falls" for the tourists. Its located in the Laos province Champasak touched to the border of Cambodia. A beautiful place to spend quiet holidays far away from all common annoying tourists centers.

Wat Phu in Champasak, Laos

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 12:41:20 +0000

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From there the sacred stream flowed down the artificially terraced mountain slope into two sacred reservoirs or barays and finally into the Mekong River, whose life-giving waters were believed to sustain the whole of the ancient Khmer Empire. Standing structures within the temple complex include quadrangles, a Nandin Hall, small pavilions, brick towers, stairways and the main shrine, which was dedicated to Shiva.
This Wat is the most important attraction of South Laos, although it is not Laotian in origin. Wat Phou was built by the Khmer.
Despite of being smaller, Wat Phou can be compared to Angkor. Not only has it been built in the same style; it also exudes the same atmosphere of an ancient city lost in the jungles for uncounted centuries. While the structures themselves are overpowering, it's the jungle overgrowth that creates a particular charm, at Angkor as well as Wat Phou. The Wat has stood unused for centuries because it has been built as a Hindu, not a Buddhist temple.
Wat Phou is older than Angkor. It was founded in the first decades of the 9th century by Jayavarman II, the first king of an independent Khmer nation. Before Jayavarman II, the Khmer were ruled by the Javanese (Indonesians). For some time Wat Phou served Jayavarman II as Khmer capital.
Though Jayavarman II soon moved his government to the Angkor plain, Wat Phou remained an important pilgrim's destination for the entire Angkor era (about 600 years).

... and goes (don't say fly!)

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:16:02 +0000

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Step 6
It's an amazing feeling when your creation first gets lift and starts to take off. At this stage, there's about ten thousand things that could go wrong. Carefully think everything through before you actually do it.
I tied some thread to mine so I could fly it inside our warehouse without it getting away and setting the place on fire.
It will drip a lot of hot wax, so keep it over the cardboard if possible. Also, if you let the candles burn all the way down, the balsa will catch on fire. I am currently experimenting with other types of candles to prevent this.

Goe (fly) safe!

Watch out that the balloon isn't landing at a military gasoline station!!!

The candle balloon goes ...

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:15:57 +0000

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Step 4
Tape the balloon to the balsa frame.
Step 5
Use a stick inside the balloon to hold the plastic away from the candles and light them. Keep holding the plastic up until enough hot air has filled the balloon to inflate it.

Starting a candle balloon

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:15:52 +0000

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Its a amazing Asian tradition to start candle balloons at any festivals.
Here the instruction:
Step 1
Cut the plastic and heat-seal the edges. Layout your materials on a large sheet cardboard. Pull out approximately 6 feet of the painter's plastic and cut it forming a sheet 9 x 6 ft. It's important to have plastic that is 1/2 mil (12 microns) or thinner. Thicker plastic is too heavy to fly.
Step 2
Melt candles together and attach them to balsa. Again, an electric hot knife makes this step a breeze. A heated fork can achieve the same results. Make sure to do both sides.
Step 3
Assemble the balsa frame. Make an "H" with the 36 in balsa and candle piece and two 3/16 x 1/8 x 30 in balsa sticks. Make the joints with a small piece of clear tape.

Tha Li, the Thai side of the border line

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:15:46 +0000

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Just crossing a bridge over the river the Mae Nam Hueang you reach the Laotian side.
Look to my pix I captured some years before:

Road workers in Pak Lay

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:15:25 +0000

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Farewell photo with our group

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:15:39 +0000

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I captured our group with this photo for a beautiful memory to every body.
We express our honor to our driver Bounnhang (second from the left) who drove us save and careful all the way.
We say many thanks to Ounheuane (third from the left) our friend for many many years who organized and arranged such an amazing journey for us.
Further to see on the photo is Fritz our Swiss friend (first on the left) and travel companion in Nepal, Switzerland and Thailand,
my wife Salama (in the middle with red jacket),
Moritz (second from the right) our Swiss friend and travel companion in Nepal, Tibet, Yunnan and Thailand and
Albin (rightmost) our Swiss friend and teacher of both my children and travel companion in Nepal, Tibet and China, Laos and Thailand.

Border control Laos/Thailand

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:15:32 +0000

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This border checkpoint has no much business to do. Only very little vehicles passing the border line each day to the Thai side Tha Li.

Fishing barge on the Mekong

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:15:19 +0000

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Pak Lay village our last rest in Laos

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:15:11 +0000

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Pak Lay was the last stopover to overnight before we left Laos to Thailand. The village was (and is at the present) a critical center of the illegal log business.

The temple in Pak Lay

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:15:04 +0000

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The home for two monks and nine novices.

A small monastery in Pak Lay

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:14:57 +0000

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We'd a talk with the abbey who's educating nine novices.

An idyllic scenery in the morning time

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:14:51 +0000

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Quiet mood at the Mekong in the morning

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:14:45 +0000

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Mekong early in the morning

nobody@ipernity.com (Wolfgang) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:14:39 +0000

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