Lost Journal Entry: 15th August 2002: Buddha Park: Laos, Xieng Khuan, Vientaine

Strangely cool picture of David Hasselhoff (Knight Rider) and Gary Coleman

http://lostoverseas.bravehost.com/laos.htm

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15/08/02: Hire motorbikes and scream our way to Xieng Khuan to visit Buddha Park. The place is a good 25km away, but worth the travelling. The sight contains bizarre Buddhist and Hindu cement sculptures. It was built by a Monk 35-40 years ago and represents stories and characters from Buddhism. Whilst walking around, some high school kids stop to talk and ask for some help with their English homework. Also they ask us to teach them some slang! All good fun. I have my picture taken with a Monk holding the above picture. The Monk shows me a Euro coin. I give him a 50p coin. Everyone’s happy.

Been in Laos for a little under 4 hours and it is the general consensus that it’s the best place so far. In comparison, it’s so nice to be able to walk around without hassles or the aggression that one sometimes got in Vietnam. Laos seems to be very chilled. The fact that tuk-tuk drivers will offer weed or opium in a really casual way makes the whole city quite an experience.

We pop down to Wat Sok Pa Luang (Forest Temple) for a rustic herbal sauna and massage. Both sauna and massage are great, but there are a few mossies about!