Thoreau's Railroad.

 Lao - Luang Prabang (16-May-2012)

Misty morning view from the top of Wat Phou Si. A very mosquito-infested climb, but it was refreshing climbing with the working out locals - to see that they actually take more pride in their health than most of us in our so-called first-world society.

 The climb wasn't especially tough, though it might be long & steep. It, of course, paid off, for this was the view. The chilly morning breeze was really something new ever since setting foot in sweltering Laos. The temperature in the day felt like it was twice of what we experienced that morning. Nonetheless, we still love Laos for its unpredictable temperament, don't we?!

 Repetitive photographs, I know, but I couldn't decide which to put on here.

 More repetition. Reclining Buddha at Wat Phou Si. I love how the Americans pronounce Phou Si. LOL. So profane.

 Religious figures inhabiting the nooks & crannies of Wat Phou Si. I really liked the concept of setting the 'Wat' amongst all these natural formations. The whole construct looks so appropriate. It seems almost as though Buddha himself might have chosen such a place to reside within, instead of ornately embellished temples, draped with expensive fabrics, layered in rare metals & so on (there are some places elsewhere where they coat Buddha in gold leaves). It just doesn't seem right that a religion like Buddhism which inculcates prudence might in fact encourage its pilgrims to engage in such mindless extravagance. I recognize though that it might be a form of 'worship', but I cannot tolerate the fact that while Buddha's statue is idling there in numerous inches thick of pure gold leaves, people somewhere else must endure hunger & cold. 

 (Above) A pious monk who supposedly served Wat Phou Si when he was alive. & so they erected this statue in remembrance of him with the life story of Buddha intricately painted at his back. Somehow, it's a recurrent motif everywhere. & the images of Buddha's life story do not differ that much across international borders.

 (Above) Buddha's footprint. Buddha's footprint appear at so many places in differing sizes. Buddha must've been a traveler too & had worn varying sizes of sandals..

 These were the food found at the morning market in Luang Prabang. If one can wake up early, it's really recommended to drop by that market. Although not everything suits the appetite that we're used to, there were some really awesome finds! Example would be the meat patty (below). Very very tasty little treats for carnivorous creatures. The fried dough fritters (above) were quite good too, though a tad too on the safe side, for we can find something similar back home.

 These meticulously packed little (rice cakes?) were sold by chattering old ladies who were more interested in their own conversation than entertaining us. But these little things were quite friendly to the taste buds though! & then those fried balls had green bean filling in them. Not very adventurous attempt, but still, at least we know that within the SEA region, we do share similarities.

 I really can't say that there might be any sense of adventure that morning. Everything here seems like they fit into our concept of what's 'edible'. Kuih-kuih, as we call it. (Below) The one wrapped in banana leaves is actually a banana kuih, nothing much. Tasted downright identical to what we'd find at a Malay stall back home.

 Snapshots of Santi Chedi. I shan't elaborate, see.

 Santi Chedi's interior. Murals, a climb up into the increasingly narrow space with the glaring gold of Buddhism figures. Truly advisable to pay a visit! A little inaccessible though.

 The dreamy exterior of Santi Chedi, set against a hilly backdrop.

 (Below) Entrance to Santi Chedi. This is perhaps what you call the association of the divine & royalty in this region. Buddha loses all his image of frugality. Seems as though he went back to his palace after he renounced his royal status. Now he's showered in lavishness!!

 Beware of suspicious meaty-looking things at roadside stalls!! This was one of the worst memories in the "food" category of my traveling experience (not that I'm that well-traveled). Looks good? Does not remotely taste good. It tasted like oil/fats & it was really tough, like the tendons in a swimmer's biceps (not that I've tasted any of that).

 *Clap clap* Visited a monument! Touristy much?

 Food, food, more food. Chicken rice with suspicious-looking pieces of offal & coagulated blood of unknown creature. (Above). 

(Below) Thai-Lao bilateral relation resulted in these goods. Rations for the rainy days.

 (Below) Freshly-baked Laotion pastry!!! Too lucky to have found a bakery in Luang Prabang. Too bad I was too excited to have taken a photo of the bakery.. It had a giant statue of a chef standing on its doorstep though, that's all I remembered of it. Oh & the fragrance of pastry wafting from the shop, despite the pungent fumes of the traffic by the road.

The main point of actually throwing in another post is this: I wanted to add to the collection of Thoreau's words before I forget. I want to quote almost an entire paragraph. My literature lecturer would've frowned at such an un-selective choice. But I really have no choice since it's a library book & I couldn't make annotations on the book. So here goes: 

"...Men have an indistinct notion that if they keep up this activity of joint stocks and spades long enough all will at length ride somewhere, in next to no time, and for nothing; but though a crowd rushes to the depot, and the conductor shouts "All aboard!" when the smoke is blown away and the vapor condensed, it will be perceived that a few are riding, but the rest are run over, - and it will be called, and will be, "A melancholy accident." No doubt they can ride at last who shall have earned their fare, that is, if they survive so long, but they will probably have lost their elasticity and desire to travel by that time. This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of it, reminds me of the Englishman who went to India to make a fortune first, in order that he might return to England and live the life of a poet. He should have gone up garret at once. "What!" exclaim a million Irishmen starting up from all the shanties in the land, "is not this railroad which we have built a good thing?" Yes, I answer, comparatively good, that is, you might have done worse; but I wish, as you are brothers of mine, that you could have spent your time better than digging in this dirt."